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hotpinkboots · 1 month

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You should do a fic where reader is like a female version of Sweeney Todd or sm and mrs.lovett is like obsessed with them

~~~~~

~𝓜𝓻𝓼. 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓽𝓽 x Fem!Sweeney!Reader~

(Headcanons + Mini-Oneshot(s))

SWEENEY TODD BUT LESBIANS? YES.

Note(s): Female Reader, it is mentioned that the Reader likes to sketch, "(L/N)" stands for "Last Name", I occasionally switched between using "Nellie" and "Mrs. Lovett" to keep it fresh, Reader overall has Sweeney's personality and backstory

Warning(s): Dark themes, Cannibalism mentioned, Blood mentioned, Mrs. Lovett is a yandere, Delusional mindset, Unhealthy + Codependent relationship, Manipulation, Mention of being hanged

How long it took to write: 4 hrs, 30 mins

~~~~~

𝓜𝓻𝓼. 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓽𝓽 set down a plate in front of you, next to your parchment of which your pencil had been scratching on for the last hour. On the plate sat a piping hot fresh meat pie. She put her hands on her hips and tilted her head, watching you intently, waiting for you to take a bite. You glanced at the pie, remembering how horrific the last one she fed you was. Your eyes flicked up to her briefly, expression unreadable. You then returned to your drawing.

She sighed in exasperation, letting her right arm fall to her side. She nudged the plate forward with her index finger. "C'mon, y'haven't eaten a thing all day. Promise this one's good." Nellie's gaze lingered softly on you as she added, "...Put a lot of love int'it, Ms. (L/N)," she added gently to guilt trip you into taking a bite.

You decided to humor her, praying that this one wouldn't do anything too terribly awful to your gag reflexes. Her stare made you uncomfortable as you took a reluctant bite. Lucky for you, this one was decent- delicious, even. You paused your chewing, taking another hesitant look at her. Did she just feed you one of the victims? You had no desire to try human for yourself. Mrs. Lovett quickly shook her head no. "Chicken. It's chicken, I swear it," she promised.

You thought it over momentarily, muttering a "Thank you", then taking another bite. Mrs. Lovett smiled proudly, giving your shoulder a pat. "O'course, love." You had expected her to leave your personal space, but rather, she lingered. She continued to hover beside you like some sort of maid awaiting a command. One more glance from you gave her the hint to leave. She took a hesitant step backwards, murmuring an awkward, "Oh- right." Nellie walked away, throwing one more secret look at you from over her shoulder.

She began to wipe down the counter, cleaning off imaginary crumbs as an excuse to keep an eye on you. She occasionally looked to see your reaction to the pie, you seemed to be enjoying it. Nellie certainly knew the way to a man's heart was through his stomach-...well. She hoped it worked for ladies, too. Mrs. Lovett looked down, pretending to focus on cleaning up the kitchen. She hummed as she worked, all while contemplating her future with you.

The business was running smoothly, and she was worn out by the end of each day from running to the cellar, collecting and chopping the "meat", baking, taking orders, serving, etc. She certainly had her work cut out for her. It would all be worth it, she knew, for one day, she'd live a cozy life with you. Perhaps not like she was imagining, but you and she could get by. The money was certainly piling in with the customers that came every day. Soon, she could finally live comfortably. But she couldn't live comfortably without you. She wished you'd open up eventually.

~Mrs. Lovett is so in love with you that it's disgusting. If she were given the chance to inject your blood into her veins just to feel you closer, to know a part of you is pumping through her to keep her alive, she would. But this wouldn't be enough- she wants to be part of you, as well. If she gained the bravery to do so, she would cut her own hand open to allow her blood to drip into your next meal, watch you eat it, and be satisfied that a part of her was inside of you, connecting you to her by blood.

~Of course, this is all wishful thinking. Mrs. Lovett tries to be somewhat normal with you, while still making it very obvious that she's in love with you. In public, she casts glances at you from the corner of her eye and makes a point of standing close enough to you that people grow suspicious that you may be a couple. She always makes something for you to eat, taking an extra long time on it so it's perfect (note that she can, in fact, cook delicious meals, she was only unable to before because there wasn't money for high-quality ingredients). She checks on you so often that it becomes a chore for you to tell her "I'm fine" multiple times a day, etc.

~Nellie sees herself as being the only person who can tame you. She thinks she needs to gently coax you into opening up to her. She finds ways to manipulate you into thinking that the world is cruel and she's the only warmth you'll find in it. Nellie believes she's the best option for you, and you're the best option for her. You were born for each other, your hearts beat in sync every second of every day, she's sure of it. Mrs. Lovett sings about you, sometimes purposely around you to show off her voice, and so you know that you're the only person on her mind.

~She'll eventually grow very lonely and desperate for you if you deny her for a long period of time. Nellie gets rather touchy-feely with her affection, brushing her hand against yours, kissing your shoulder when she walks by, fixing your hair far more than needed, and giving you a few pet names.

~But, Mrs. Lovett isn't always so lovey and adoring. She's refreshingly cheeky and exasperated. She once pretended to be inconvenienced when she spotted a cut on your hand from your barber shears. She patched you up and scolded you to be more careful, while you sat and humored her, knowing full well you could do it yourself. Nellie is very happy to be taking care of you, even if it's just the smallest opportunity to do so, and even if she plays hard to get about it.

~Somehow, her clingy behavior, the way she looks at you so deeply, and how she's always insisting on planning for the future with you, begins to get into your head and heart. She's such a unique lady, you've really never met anybody like her. Nellie always looks so perfectly disheveled, you've started taking a liking to her messy hair and her cheeky remarks from across the room to fill the silence. She's a quick-witted lady, any suspicions from a customer would result in an easy cover-up explanation from Mrs. Lovett. She works quickly and efficiently in her shop, trotting about to get the work done. All of her strange little personality quirks became home to you. Nellie infuriated you in more ways than one, and really, you wouldn't have it any other way.

~By this point, you and Mrs. Lovett are completely codependent on each other. You couldn't imagine a life without her. This was all her idea, anyway, where would you be without her? Poor and alone, that's where, perhaps even back in prison. The same goes for Mrs. Lovett. She'd continue to be alone in her empty shop without you. She most likely would've gone mad (although, she's gone quite mad already) with her lonesome life.

~Nellie couldn't be more satisfied with the way everything turned out. The business was flourishing, the money was coming in, and she had the love of her life by her side.

𝓜𝓻𝓼. 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓽𝓽 had quite a tiring day. She was busier these days than she had ever been- she was grateful for the customers, but she was undeniably exhausted. Going up and down the steps of the cellar had done a number on her knees, she had been in such a hurry that she'd burned herself on the furnace a few times, and to top it all off, one of the customers had been infuriating. When she finally had time to sit down and enjoy a cup of tea, she'd fallen asleep.

You quietly went down the stairs to the first floor of the building, Nellie's pie shop. You spotted her lounging back on the chaise lounge, the dying fire crackling softly, her tea cold without even a sip of it gone. You reckoned she must've been exhausted, doing most of the work, while you simply stayed upstairs slitting throats and sending them down the chute. You had the easy part of the job, you realized, as you made your way with silent steps over to where she lay.

Nellie felt you coming toward her even in her sleep. She turned her head in your direction and muttered something incomprehensible at you. You didn't respond verbally, but you gained the courage to lean down and give an affectionate peck to the top of her head, your breath gently ruffling her unkempt hair. Mrs. Lovett immediately opened her eyes and looked up at you. She scoffed when she saw that you were walking away. "Y'can't just kiss me an'walk away. Come back, love," she called after you, her voice sounding raspy as she had just woken up.

Mrs. Lovett sat up to make room for you, while you hesitated before walking back to sit by her. She rested her chin on your shoulder, looking up at you with rich dark brown eyes. "Ms. (L/N)," She murmured tenderly, waiting expectantly for you to kiss her lips. "Don't be shy," Nellie added playfully, hoping that you would follow through.

All of her dreams suddenly came true when you cupped her cheek tenderly. She wanted to rush it and kiss you already, after all, she'd been waiting months for this, but she knew it would make the moment far less special if she gave you a hurried kiss. Nellie's eyes fluttered shut, as did yours. You felt her tender lips against yours moments later, your body melting into her like soft butter on warm toast. Neither of you had kissed anybody in years. This felt like a first kiss for both of you, full of adoration and pure unadulterated devotion.

Just as yours had, her body melted, as well, in relief. She was finally kissing you, after so long of daydreaming about it. Nellie softly ran her fingers down your jawline, her other hand busy tracing the back of your soft neck. You could feel her smile against your lips. Once the kiss was broken, she looked up at you sweetly. You caressed her cheek with your knuckles, causing her to lean into your hand as though she had never been touched so gently in her life.

You and Nellie had an unspoken agreement that night. You'd stay together forever, until death do you part- whether from natural causes, or from the noose you'd hang by should society ever find out the secret ingredient in Mrs. Lovett's meat pies.

~~~~~

Request Guidelines!

~Love, PinkBoots

#pink's fanfic #sweeney todd #sweeney todd 2007 #sweeney todd the demon barber of fleet street #mrs lovett #mrs lovett x reader #yandere #musicals #female reader #fem reader #reader insert #wlw #wlw fanfic #horror

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seijorhi · 3 months

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Hey Rhi 👋

It’s been established that I’m completely obsessed with your fic “Means to an End” and I was wondering if you could PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE just spare me a couple more crumbs!!!!! Whether it’s just a couple of backstory ideas that didn’t make it into the fic, outtakes, lil fun facts, more info on the twins and readers highschool drama, or more info on Atsumu and Ames relationship, LITERALLY ANYTHING.

At this point I’m starving 😔, you could throw me a bone and I would die happy.

OBVIOUSLY I don’t want to force you or anything, if you’re not comfortable with doing any of those things, or if I overstepped a boundary, than I’m sorry and I understand. I wouldn’t be at all booty hurt.

This is just me being desperate, delusional, and annoying 😭. ( I was going to ask some questions but my mind is blanking for some reason 😃)

With that being said, hope you keep your mental and physical health 🆙. And in case nobody’s told you this today, we love and support you babe ☆*:.｡. o(≧▽≦)o .｡.:*☆

-🌫️🌬️

nonnie do not let it be said that i leave y'all to starve

atsumu's not usually the grateful type.

some might argue that he should be. the talent he's been blessed with, the opportunities that came with it – but what none of those whiny little piss-ants seem to understand is that those things weren't given to him. he worked for them. hours on the court, practicing with samu, competing against him. drills, endless fucking drills, running til he puked, set after set after set, serve after serve after serve until he was practically fuckin' flawless.

he won't be grateful for his teammates, or his coaches, not even for samu. they worked their asses off to get where they are, too, and samu– samu's his other half. a part of him. it'd be like being grateful for his right foot or grateful for his lungs.

you certainly didn't trip and just fall into their laps – onto your knees, pretty mouth begrudgingly parted – back then, either. never let it be said that he and osamu half ass these things.

but as the girl behind the counter lays out her tray, glittering, shiny – expensive – pieces splayed out to show him, atsumu decides that maybe he has to rethink that.

because he is grateful, really.

ame might as well be a gift, wrapped in ribbon and fucking lace, delivered right into his hands. his sweet, eager to please, idiot girlfriend. atsumu grins, hardly listening to the sales assistant prattle on about the collection – but to his credit, he pretends, throwing in a nod and thoughtful hum every now and then.

'just get her a decent looking fake, s'not like she's gonna know,' samu had said. 'why waste the money?' the why bother goes unsaid.

osamu's not wrong, exactly. he isn't in love with ame, some days he can't stand her. she's fucking annoying at the best of times. ame's not the end goal here – more of a means to that end – but he's not gonna sit and pretend he's not kinda looking forward to breaking her heart and kicking her to the kerb.

but if ame's been good for one thing – if he's grateful to her for anything – it's that she making all this so damn easy.

always chattering, giggling, smiling, bulldozing over your worries and fears. not that you told her the full truth. he doubts that even she'd be able to overlook that, but you told her enough that would've raised some serious red flags with anyone else.

not ame. not his girlfriend. your best friend, supposedly.

what's there to worry about? he and samu, they've grown up since high school, matured, lost that mean streak of theirs. she's so in love with the idea of him that she can't even imagine the atsumu you're intimately familiar with.

he almost died laughing when, at dinner the other night, she'd bashfully admitted to wanting to play a little matchmaker with you and osamu over the weekend. like he and samu haven't already seen you naked, fucked you – claimed you as theirs in every way that counts.

and sure, you've always been easy enough to manipulate to where they want you. even without ame this reprieve of yours was only ever gonna be a temporary thing – til they got their shit together, at least – but fuck it all if she wasn't going out of her way to make it a nice, smooth transition.

he glances up at the sales girl, a grin already taking shape. 'the earrings.' he says, jabbing a finger at the diamonds, 'i'll take 'em.'

she deserves something nice, considering he's just so damn grateful for her help in all of this.

#but also #do not expect this on the reg #i had a thought and i ran with it #this brain is a temperamental piece of equipment #gotta hit it with a spanner just right before it clicks on and starts spewing stuff out #it is now firmly tapped out #fhdjkslfdjs #fic asks #means to an end #-🌫️🌬️ anon

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sheasshovel · 4 months

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HEAR ME OUT

Scar as Apollo and Gem as Artemis…

Starting with Gem;

-HER ANTLERS!! Deer are sacred animals to Artemis and she is also the goddess of the moon and thats so shiny duo crumbs (pearl as the moon).

-Pearl could also work as a follower of Artemis though because of her disastrous double life relationship with Scott. Followers of Artemis swore off love and lived a life of chaste, which aligns well with Pearl having forgiven Scott after she won but never having the same relationship with him that she had in Last Life.

-Artemis herself also swore off love of any kind.. and guess who wasn’t there for Double life for a soul bound?

-Her only Allies in sl, besides the moon herself, were Scott and Impulse. Both of which could work as devout followers of Artemis because of their rejection of their own respective soulmates. Scott acknowledges his past lovers as his exes and never (to my knowledge) expresses wanting to get back with them. Impulse, too, never hesitated to attack the mounders even if they had Bdubs on their side. Impulse and Bdubs had a great relationship in Double Life but I like to think that, for this theory to work, they’ve just decided to keep that relationship in Dl.

-Besides the moon, Artemis is also a symbol of the hunt which is exactly what she did in sl sessions 7-8; hunt people down with the aid of the moon. Imagine moonlight illuminating her path as she stalks her prey….

Scars turn;

-Now, Apollo isn’t the god of the Sun (that would be Helios… or Grian in this case) but rather of sunlight, but the sun is still a huge symbol of him. Not to go all desert duo on you but the crumbs are there. Scar also covers himself in sunflowers in sl, a flower known to always be facing the sun, basking in its light. It’s worth mentioning that Scar was only close to winning when he and the Sun were inseparable in 3rd life, and he actually won when he was faced with the symbol of the moon and the moon herself.

-This is more silly but Apollo is highly connected with musical arts (specifically the lyre) and could you imagine if that scene where Grian and Scar were singing together wasn’t just Scar being oblivious but instead Apollo using any chance he can get to showcase his musical talent to the Sun?

-Apollo’s gift of Prophecy… Scar “we all die in the end” would be more prophetic if we all collectively gaslight ourselves into believing that he died after hitting succeed on his task. But in these death games, everyone knows by now how it ends. I think Scar acknowledging this is somehow foreshadowing how he wins though; by murdering everyone who stands in his way, not accepting sacrifices and turning on his temporary allies the second its clear that it would benefit him. When he said everyone would die he truly meant EVERYONE would die, and a majority will die to him or his twin (Artemis).

-Apollo and Artemis are both known for using Archery, but Scar is literally Hotguy come on now. His last kill was an arrow to Pearl that knocked her off of a cliff, an ARROW at the MOON. Scar is an incredibly skilled bow user and I would include this in Gem’s part too but I’m pretty sure she’s gotten more kills on sl by sword.

-Lastly, the Muses. Apollo, being the god of arts and music, was the choir leader of the 9 muses on Olympus. Now, Scar was never friends with more than 2 people at a time in the life series but lets look at his kills instead. In session 9 alone, he got 6 Permakills and 2 assists (Big B and Skizz) which brings us up to 8. Not enough but he lasted for 9 sessions, which is pretty cool if you interpret every session as a muse. Each session’s task being a huge influence on how Scar acts, even if he fails the task.

I think the 9 muses, Gem’s preferred weapon, and Apollo’s connection to medicine and Scar’s lack thereof are the weakest parts of this delusional rant but I still love the idea of the final battle in sl featuring the moon rejecting Artemis and a battle between the Twins. Apollo winning only after destroying the moon herself, who lost her will to win after the events of Dl. Apollo having once been allied with the Sun, and the Moon once having her win handed to her by her soulmate. Anyways Shinyduo Desertduo and Scar/Pearl narrative foils real and true.

#gtws #secret life #rant #goodtimeswithscar #geminitay #geminislay #grian #pearlescentmoon #life series #life smp #this came to me in a vision #desert duo #shiny duo #what are Pearl and Scars duo called help #sunflower duo #character analysis #does this count as a character analysis or a #or a drunken rambling

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depressedbagpipe · 2 years

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The Freak and the Jedi (Eddie Munson x female!Henderson!reader)

Chapter three: The Monster and the Superhero

Words: 4427 Warnings: lots of bad language, mentions of previous stranger things seasons' events so spoilers?, reader knows how to wield a sword, nerd stuff. A/N: all D&D info is from Wikipedia, all blade runner, star wars, and back to the future info is from my brain (gotta give credit when it's due). hope you guys enjoy reader's conversation with Eddie ;) Taglist: @authorlovers, @angiewhoohooo, @thatsamegirl, @lizzy-95, @elleeeee21, @tanyaherondale, @le-who-zer-her, @toobsessedsstuff

Series Masterlist Previous chapter <> Next chapter

Chapter three: The Monster and the Superhero

“Delivery service!” Dustin said as we all piled at the door of the shed.

I grinned at Eddie’s scared face at the sudden noise. We gave him the bags, filled to the brim with food and drinks he liked. My fingers brushed his when I gave him the bag I was holding, his favorite snacks in it that I remembered from our time together. He softly smiled when he peered inside, looking back at me with a glint in his eye.

Thank you, he mouthed inaudibly as I motioned him to sit down. Eddie quickly opened one of the cereal boxes and hungrily ate it, crumbs falling from his face.

“So we got, uh, some good news and some bad news,” Dustin said as he sat down on a stool. The shed’s water door was opened, letting the fresh morning air bathe the room. “How do you prefer it?”

“Bad news first, always,” Eddie answered, his mouth full of cereal.

Dustin braced himself. “All right. Bad news. We tapped into the Hawkins PD dispatch with our Cerebro, and they’re definitely looking for you,” he started. “Also, they’re, uh, pretty convinced you killed Chrissy.”

“Like, a hundred percent kind of convinced,” Max butted in.

I pursed my lips, knowing the situation was complicated.

“And the good news?” Eddie didn’t even seem fazed at that point, his somewhat positivity drawing a smile on my face.

“Your name hasn’t gone public yet,” Robin answered. “But if we found out about you, it’s a matter of time before others do too, and once that gets out, everyone and their shallow-minded mother is gonna be gunning for you.”

“Those are not good news, Ro,” I told her with a pointed glare after seeing Eddie’s hope slowly leave his soul, his shoulders dropping.

“Hunt the freak, right?” he looked at her.

“Exactly.”

“Shit,” Eddie looked away.

Dustin quickly intervened. “So, before that happens, we need to find Vecna, kill him, and prove your innocence.”

Eddie stared at him. “That’s all, Dustin? That’s all?”

Even Eddie could see the difficulty of it.

“Yeah, no, that’s pretty much it,” Dustin was nodding his head, trying to keep everyone's spirits up.

“Listen, Eddie, I know everything Dustin’s saying sounds totally delusional, but we’ve actually been through this before. I mean, they have a… a few times, and I have once. Mine was more human-flesh-based, theirs was more smoke-related, but bottom line is, collectively, I really feel like we got this,” Robin spoke, while the rest of us nodded at her words, memories fresh on our minds about everything that had gone down these past years.

“Yes, we usually rely on this girl who has superpowers, but uh, those went bye-bye so…” Steve added to the conversation, backing Robin up.

“So we’re technically in more of the…” Robin struggled to find the words.

“Kinda…” Steve offered as well.

“Brainstorming phase,” I concluded, Steve snapping his fingers at me in approval.

Dustin spluttered. “There… There’s nothing to worry about,” his voice got an octave higher.

Steve scoffed next to him, trying to reassure a still scared-looking Eddie, shifting his gaze among all of us.

Police sirens sounded in the distance, all of us tensing immediately and looking through the windows as the sound got louder.

“Tarp! Tarp! Tarp!” Robin pointed the tarp to Eddie, who quickly put it above him as he lay on the boat again.

Several police cars, an ambulance, and firefighters were rushing through the road, completely ignoring Reefer Rick’s house. We stood there waiting for a few minutes, but the cars didn’t come back.

“Maybe we should check that out,” Steve said, sharing a glance with us.

I walked to the boat, gently pulling the tarp out of Eddie’s body and shyly smiling at him. “It’s fine, you’re okay,” I offered him my hand, which he quietly took and pulled himself up, his face inches closer to mine when I didn’t move.

“Whoa, sorry, I…” he trailed off, his eyes fixed on my face.

I shook my head. “It’s okay,” yet I stayed there, semi-bended over the boat and Eddie’s now-sitting body. My eyes unconsciously trailed over his aged features, noticing the light stubble on his jaw, and the light creases on his eyes.

His lips were slightly reddish, standing out in the cold shed. I looked at them for a split second, thinking back to the many times I had kissed them before my life had completely turned upside down. I saw Eddie’s eyes fall down my face as well, but Robin’s voice broke me out of the spell.

“Maybe somebody can stay behind to keep Eddie company,” I almost leaped away from him, the two of us adopting normal poses despite not doing anything. But Robin was far too observant when it came to her best friends. “Why don’t you stay behind?” she pointed at me, a mischievous smile on her face.

My face got red immediately. “What? I mean, sure, I don’t mind, but…” she interrupted me.

“Good, then it’s settled. We’ll come back for you in a while, have fun!” Robin ushered everybody out.

“Ro, wait, I…” she quickly engulfed me in a tight hug and patted me on the back.

“You’ll thank me later,” she squeezed my shoulder and winked at me, quickly following behind the guys and closing the door behind her.

Silence engulfed us as I stood frozen in place. Eddie wasn’t looking at me, either, keeping his hands and mouth busy as he continued eating his cereal. I took a brick of milk from one of the bags and handed it to him.

“Maybe you want this,” I told him, shaking the brick slightly in front of his face.

He tentatively took it from my hand, muttering a low ‘thanks.’

I sat down on Dustin’s previous seat on the stool, looking out at the lake before us.

“You know, I’ve always wanted a house here,” I said out loud, my eyes still fixed on the calm water.

Eddie took a big gulp. “I know.”

I looked at him surprised. “You remember that?”

He simply nodded, his eyes fixed on his cereal. “I remember many things, actually,” he grinned at me with his usual boyish smile.

It was contagious, really, how he always managed to put on a smirk and keep going with life, even when the odds were not in his favor.

“I remember many things too, you know,” I said, my words stuck to my throat. There was so much I wanted to tell him, but they always died down before they got out. “So, Vecna…” I trailed off, hoping to initiate a conversation with him.

Eddie’s ears seemed to perk at the name. “Vecna,” he acknowledged.

“Who’s this guy?” I asked him, fully facing him now.

His face lit up despite the danger hanging in the air. “Well, you see, this is a super powerful villain in D&D. He used to be a wizard but then became a lich.”

“A what?” I scrunched my face, not knowing what he was talking about.

Eddie thought for a moment. “It’s like an undead creature.”

“Like… zombies, and all that?” I asked again, trying to grasp the concept.

Eddie put his cereal on the ground outside the boat, sitting closer to me on the edge of the boat’s bench, bringing his hands together. “Kinda, but different. A lich is someone who willfully transforms himself into an undead creature, so they still keep their intelligence and their magical abilities.”

I nodded my head in understanding. “So, this Vecna… wanted to become an undead creature?” I asked, making sure I followed his story.

Eddie nodded with a smile on his face. “Pretty much, yeah.”

I scrunched my face again. “Why would you want to unalive yourself? I mean, if you keep your magical powers and stuff, why become undead in the first place?” I asked.

Eddie shrugged, enjoying my confusion. “If you are a corpse, you can’t die twice,” he simply answered.

I stood there watching him, his words echoing in my brain. “Alright, so Vecna is a corpse who can’t die. Cool. How can you kill an undead creature, then?

“Same way you defeat the Dark Side,” Eddie casually shrugged, staring at me with wide eyes.

“With love?” I offered, thinking about how Luke saved his father.

“With a sword,” Eddie corrected.

My mouth dropped. “There are lightsabers in Dungeons & Dragons?” I practically yelled.

Eddie laughed out loud. “Of course not. Vecna was betrayed by his right-hand man. Pretty much what Darth Vader did to the Emperor,” he stood up from the boat, getting out and getting a water bottle from the other bag of supplies.

“So, his right-hand man killed him with a sword, I take?” I connected the dots, pride filling up my chest at Eddie’s nod.

“Kas the Bloody-Handed murdered him with a sword Vecna crafted for him,” he took a big gulp, offering me the bottle to drink from.

“And who’s Kas now?” I asked, feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the information. I took the bottle with shaking hands, once again ignoring the electrifying touch of his skin.

“A vampire,” I nearly choked on the water.

“Alright, this is too complicated for me,” I said as I coughed, handing the bottle back to Eddie.

“Says the girl who understood Blade Runner,” Eddie rolled his eyes.

I scoffed. “What don’t you understand about Blade Runner?” I crossed my arms, enjoying the banter.

“How can you fall in love with a replicant? I mean, that’s a robot,” he shouted, following my movement.

“You like R2-D2,” I pointed out.

“That’s different.”

“Why?”

“I don’t wanna have sex with him!” Eddie threw his hands in the air as I chuckled.

I stared at him with a grin. “Thank you for confirming you did not understand Blade Runner.”

Eddie scoffed in an exaggerated manner. “I totally did. It’s Han Solo but in a different universe,” he waved his hand around.

I laughed again. “Whatever rows your boat, Munson,” I winked at him.

“Hey, be careful, princess, you’re talking to the Dungeon Master,” he pointed to himself.

My cheeks were tinted red at the name, and I quickly looked away so he wouldn’t see it.

“Alright, Dungeon Master, should I explain Back to the Future as well?”

“I got it wrong once, okay? We don’t have to bring that up again,” he held a finger up.

“It’s called Back to the Future for a reason, Eddie!” I laughed, remembering his yells across the cafeteria when he discussed the movie with Jeff last year.

Eddie shook his head, but he too wore a wide grin. “Alright, when they make another movie and go to the past, we’ll talk then,” he said, walking around the shed.

“Is that a promise?” I lifted one eyebrow, looking at him with a new fire in my stomach.

“That’s a threat,” Eddie was suddenly standing in front of me.

“I’ll take it,” I whispered, my eyes scanning his face once again.

A couple of moments of silence went by as we stared at each other, but the close proximity made my heart beat faster. I looked away and coughed awkwardly, taking a few steps back to add some distance between us. Whether it was needed, I didn’t know.

“Hey, Eddie, I really wanted to talk to you about something yesterday,” I said, remembering our interaction at the school hall.

“Yeah?” he asked after a quick groan, walking around the shed, his eyes not meeting mine, as he gingerly touched everything on display.

I sighed. “I just… I wanted to thank you. For taking Dustin in. For taking care of him. For giving him a place to belong,” I fiddled with my jacket, trying to keep my hands occupied. “I mean, I don’t care if you did it for me, but I know it meant the whole world to him and just… thank you,” I looked up, finding Eddie looking at me with a deep stare. “I was scared when Dustin started high school. I know how mean people can be and I didn’t want him to experience middle school all over again.”

Eddie shook his head, a kind gesture drawn on his face. “You have nothing to thank me for,” he sat down on one of the tables put against the wall. “Truth is, when I first saw him, I didn’t even recognize him. But I saw him and Mike, sitting alone, and I just knew I had to welcome them. I know what it feels like to be a freak,” he added, his eyes staring outside the window.

“Eddie, you’re not a freak,” I argued softly.

“I don’t mind, really. Somebody had to be the outcast. It just happened to be me,” he shrugged, but I knew him better. I knew the way he held himself like he held the weight of the world, constantly taking the punches and the stares to protect his friends. To protect my brother. “He’s a great kid. Definitely a Henderson,” he grinned at me, an old ghost in the corner of his eyes as he mentioned my last name.

“You’re great, too,” I immediately closed my eyes, cringing.

But thankfully, Eddie laughed at my words.

“Always a compliment coming from a Jedi,” I grinned.

“I am by no means a Jedi,” I laughed softly, feeling the blush on my cheeks getting hotter by the minute.

Eddie scoffed. “You can wield a sword,” he sent me a pointed look.

“I’m Luke in A New Hope at best,” I dismissed him.

“Dustin clearly gives you more credit. Why did you stop?” Eddie asked, stepping closer to me once again.

I closed my eyes, fearing the answer. There was still a fairly big space between us, but even with the fresh air of the water the interior of the shed felt hot.

“You know when Robin said we’ve done this before?” I asked him, my turn to explain now. When Eddie nodded, I took a deep breath and sat down on the stool once more, finding the right words. “Alright, well, she’s not wrong. Remember when Will disappeared?” I asked him again.

Eddie nodded again. “Yeah, and later got back from the dead.”

I winced at the memory. “Right. Well, this… creature, the Demogorgon, took him. We call it the Upside Down, this alternate Hawkins. And we’ve had a few encounters with it. Starcourt Mall wasn’t destroyed by a fire, either,” I started.

I explained everything to Eddie, recounting every single event that happened from the night Will went missing, until today. All those months of fear, distress, and anxiety, mixed and blended together as the world around us nearly ended over and over.

“The night we broke up we were about to fight the Demogorgon. And I was terrified, Eddie, because I didn’t know what was gonna happen next,” tears had gathered in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “And I could only think about Dustin, and Will, and Mike, and Lucas, even everybody, and how fucking young they were and how they didn’t deserve it. And yet worse things kept coming after that. The fucking feds showed up at my house, we were all surveyed by the government for months, hell, I know we still are!” my voice broke down. “And the first thing on my mind was that we had somehow been brought into this mess and you didn’t fucking deserve it and I thought that if I broke up with you at least you would be safe but now you’re exactly in the middle of this fucking mess and, shit, I…” I sobbed, the tears unwillingly staining my cheeks. “Eddie, none of this was supposed to happen to you, I’m so fucking sorry.”

Eddie quickly pulled me up off the stool and held me in his arms as I cried into his chest, his hands squeezing me tightly as he rocked me side to side. “It’s okay, baby, it’s okay,” he tried comforting me, but the damage was done.

“No, it’s not, Eddie! You’re accused of murder and there’s no sane way to even begin to explain all of this and we don’t even know who this Vecna guy is or what he wants but you saw what he did to Chrissy, and what if he does the same thing to you–us? Everything I’ve ever done this past year was trying to keep my family safe and yet again I have failed!” I yelled, gripping his shirt tightly in my fist.

“Hey, look at me,” Eddie put his hands on my face. “None of this is your fault. None of it. You haven’t failed,” he stared into my eyes, trying to get his point across.

“But,” he interrupted me before I could finish.

“No buts,” he replied. “You didn’t run away from danger. You’ve faced it many times and are willing to do it over again. You protected your family and your friends and you keep doing it. Even now, you’re risking your own safety by staying here with me. You’re a fucking Jedi, baby. You slayed monsters with a sword and lived to tell the story. So don’t say you’ve failed, Henderson.”

I stared at Eddie, my mouth slightly parted at his words. The tears stopped when Eddie brushed them away from my cheeks, his warmth enveloping me like a soft blanket. His eyes never left my face, brown eyes meeting mine, barely blinking.

“Thank you,” I whispered, my mind void of any other thought than him. His eyes, his hands, his touch, his presence. Him.

“Even Luke Skywalker needs help sometimes,” he merely shrugged, a kind smile on his face suddenly reassuring me.

I softly chuckled, yet turned my head around when the sound of tires scratching was heard outside.

Eddie and I jumped away from each other, Eddie walking to the other side of the shed and occupying himself with everything he could find, while I looked out at the blue water in front of me, blowing air into my face with my hands to prevent the redness of my eyes to be seen.

The door suddenly opened, revealing Dustin. “Hey, sis, we need to go,” he said with urgency.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, my heart filling with dread at his grave face.

“Vecna’s got himself another kill,” he said quickly.

“What?” Eddie and I said at the same time, stepping closer to the kid.

He nodded, tugging my hand. “I’ll explain on the way there, Steve and Max are in the car waiting,” he pushed me to the door. “Bye, Eddie, stay hidden, alright? If anything happens, use the radio,” he shouted behind me as he closed the door behind us, leaving a baffled Eddie on the inside.

I got into Steve’s car, stealing Dustin’s passenger seat and motioning him to sit in the back.

“But why?” he protested.

“‘Cause I’m older,” I flicked my hair over my shoulder, sending a small wave to the shed’s window as a goodbye to Eddie, not knowing if he saw it or not.

“Hey, you okay?” Steve asked quietly as he pulled out of Reefer Rick’s house, noticing with a frown my still reddish face.

I nodded at him. “Yeah, yeah, I’m fine,” I tried to brush it off, but Steve wouldn’t let me.

“Did he do something to you? Damnit, I’m gonna kill him,” he gripped the steering wheel harder, his knuckles turning white, but I quickly shook my head.

“No, Steve, nothing happened. I’m fine,” I tried to reassure him, not wanting to raise my voice. “Where’s Robin?” I asked to deviate from the topic, not oblivious to her absence.

“It’s a long story.”

Max sent us a small nod when she got inside Ms. Kelley’s house.

“Okay. She’s in,” Steve said a bit redundantly.

“I’m missing collarbones, not eyes,” Dustin answered to Steve’s bluntness. I snorted, keeping in my laughs. “So… we gonna talk about… it?” Dustin had his eyes fixed on Steve.

I frowned. “What’s ‘it?’”

“Huh? Sorry, talk about what?” Steve asked distractedly.

Dustin rolled his eyes. “Your temporary insanity earlier today when you basically threw yourself at Nance?

I gasped. “You did what now?”

“Okay, first of all, that’s not what happened, okay?” Steve started.

“Pretty sure that’s what happened. It was pretty public. There were like a lot of witnesses,” Dustin directed his words to me.

My mouth was hanging open.

“For fuck’s sake, Steve, she’s got a boyfriend!” I punched him in the arm.

“Ouch! Are you implying that I still have a thing for Nance?” Steve asked Dustin, not without glaring at me first in pain.

“No, I’m not implying. I’m stating. And, as it relates to your steadfast refusal to date Robin, it’s pretty much the only logical explanation.” Dustin threw himself on the back of his seat.

I shared a look with Steve, knowing the real reason behind that.

“That’s not the only one. And as for Nance, I was just trying to protect a friend,” but Dustin’s smile made Steve even madder. “A friend, Henderson, okay?”

“Okay,” said Dustin, his voice higher.

“Don’t wanna find her in the morning with her eyes sucked out of the front of her skull by this Vecna creep,” Steve was throwing his hands around.

Dustin and I chuckled. “You’re like bright red in the face right now,” Dustin said as I bopped his nose, laughing as Steve tried to get away from my finger.

“No, I’m not, I don’t wanna talk about it. I’ll punch you so hard your teeth will fall back out,” Steve said.

“Whoa, too far,” Dustin glared at him.

“Too far,” I punched him in the arm again.

Steve looked at us, realizing what he just said. “Not cool. Sorry,” he apologized, regret evident on his face.

“Not cool. It’s okay,” Dustin bumped his fist, the three of us falling into a comfortable silence as we waited for Max to come out.

“Could we put on some music?” I asked out of nowhere, already getting bored.

“Sure,” Steve shrugged and reached for the car’s station, the frequency falling on a random station loudly playing Battery by Metallica. “Oh gosh, what is that?” Steve asked disgustedly.

“What do you mean? It’s music,” I answered, moving my head to the fast tempo.

“No, it isn’t, it’s just noise,” Steve tried changing the radio.

I swatted his hand away, ready to argue with him, when Max got into the car, breathing heavily.

“What’d she say?” Dustin asked her as she closed the door behind her.

“Nothing, just drive,” she was out of breath, her hands trembling.

“Nothing?” Steve asked, but Max was already yelling at him.

“Steve, drive!”

He quickly started the car, hitting the pedal hard as the car forcefully lunched forward.

“Max,” I turned around in my seat. “Is everything alright?”

She showed me her hands, holding a set of keys between her fingers. “I might have stolen Ms. Kelley’s keys to her office.”

I stared at her in silence, opting for shrugging and facing the front again. “It’s not the first illegal thing we’ve done.”

Dustin’s radio suddenly went on, Lucas’ voice calling for him.

“Lucas? Where the hell have you been?” Dustin practically shouted into the radio.

“Just listen! Are you guys looking for Eddie?” I frowned at his question.

“Yeah, we found him, no thanks to you,” Dustin was basically chastising Lucas at this point.

“You found him?” Lucas’ voice was desperate.

“He’s at a boathouse on Coal Mill Road. Don’t worry, he’s safe,” Dustin answered.

“You guys know he killed Chrissy, right?” Lucas said, making me shake with anger.

Thankfully, Dustin was still on the other side of the conversation. “That’s bullshit! Eddie tried to save Chrissy.”

“Then why do all the cops say he did it?” Lucas asked.

Max grabbed Dustin’s radio harshly. “Lucas, you’re so behind it’s ridiculous, okay? Just meet us at the school. We’ll explain later,” Max rolled her eyes at her ex-boyfriend.

Lucas waited a couple of seconds before answering. “I… I can’t. I think some real bad shit’s about to go down.”

Everybody frowned. “What are you talking about? What bad shit?” asked Max.

But the only sound we were met with was the static of the radio, the connection lost.

“Lucas? Lucas?” Max tried, but he didn’t answer.

“What do we do?” I asked after a few minutes in silence.

“Stick to the plan. Go to the school, wait for Nancy and Robin to get back,” answered Dustin, silence falling densely on the car as we drove through the roads of Hawkins.

Max and I walked many steps ahead of the boys, a flashlight in my head as Max found the right key once we reached Ms. Kelley’s office. Dustin updated Robin on their radio call, also telling her to meet us at the school.

Max rapidly opened the door, making me wonder about her ability to break into places without being seen or heard.

She might have read my thoughts, for she looked at me with a guilty smile. “When you grow up with Billy as your brother, you learn how not to get caught,” she said as she walked into the dark room.

“Noted,” I nodded as I followed her inside.

We both immediately walked to the archive on one side of the wall, our fingers opening every single drawer, hoping to find Chrissy’s file.

“It’s like a mini-Watergate or something.” Dustin started, looking around with Steve. “Hawkinsgate,” he gasped, proud of his invention.

“Wait a second, didn’t those guys get caught?” Steve asked him, making me roll my eyes at their conversation.

“Holy shit,” Max said, her fingers hanging above a file on an upper drawer.

“You found it?” Dustin walked closer to us.

I looked over Max’s shoulders, also gasping.

“Yeah, and not just Chrissy’s file. Fred was seeing Ms. Kelley too.”

We grabbed the files and put them on the desk, quickly reading over them, noticing the same symptoms in both students. With every passing minute, Max got tenser, her hands shaking as she turned the pages over.

“Max?” I touched her back, noticing how her look was fixed on a vacant spot on the ground.

When she didn’t respond, I shook her a little, calling her name louder, Dustin and Steve following my lead.

I turned her around in her seat, finding her stare blank, frozen, completely hypnotized. My heart beat rapidly in my chest, shaking her, remembering Eddie’s words when he talked about Chrissy.

A single thought was on my mind. Vecna.

“MAX!”

Next chapter

#eddie munson #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x oc #eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson x female reader #eddie munson x y/n #stranger things fanfiction #dustin henderson #steve harrington #eleven #eddie my beloved #stranger things #eddie munson fic #the freak and the jedi

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blueeandyellowmakesgreen · 2 years

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What do you think of Millie saying that mildew’s relationship is stronger than ever now after season 4? I know she probably doesn’t know how season 5 is gonna go but it’s kind of making me lose my confidence a little about Byler /:

i understand that, and i honestly felt the same initially, then i realized it literally doesnt matter. actors always put their two cents in interviews, but its not a reliant source because they dont write the show. millie also had a number of questionable takes to begin with, such as preferring brenner as el's more prominent father figure than hopper apparently; its yikes

i also believe this with brett. his opinions about byler gives me reassurance that we're not delusional, and its nice to see people from the cast talk about it in a positive light, but its not something im completely relying on. i mostly just treat it as crumbs

noah is kind of a different case because he literally plays will, so im giving his statements a bit more credibility even if hes a little biased with byler.

but other than that, dont fret anon :)

look back to the various evidence we collected in the past 3 months. look at the tumblr follower count. in the rate we're growing, we're gonna surpass de*tiel. it shows we're far from wrong in how we interpret the show and mike and will's relationship.

look at the ratio between malware and byler from all social med sites when it comes to content.

look at the script poll votes where barely anyone voted for the monologue, even with the bylers' help.

and lastly, the most important evidence of all, just have to look at the clear visual hints and narrative cues in the show. will has done nothing but lose in the show. the most basic of conflicts when it comes to a good story is giving the character struggles in order to give them the most satisfying conclusion. they established will's wants this season, and that want is spending the rest of his life with mike. if they dont give him that, its not a satisfying ending, and it simply doesnt make narrative sense if it doesnt give some form of catharsis to the audience after emphasizing on his struggles so much for 4 seasons straight. they want us to feel for him, to feel sorry for him. with this said, they are basically obligated to give him his ideal happy ending. and that ending only makes sense with mike.

also consider the framing of byler's shots specifically, the way they approached the individual arcs with mike, el and will.

remember that s4 is supposed to make you feel like you lost, and that includes the characters. will thought he lost mike, but with how mike confided and reassured will in the end as his final moment, and not with el, is crucial. consider the fact theyre bringing back older dynamics and they will not be introducing new characters in the final season. and also obviously, the framing of the final scene.

this got long but i totally feel you, byler doubt is the worse orz i hope this helped a little bit to alleviate that ^^

#byler #and if we’re wrong im still gonna ship it bc apparemtly my brain is bigger than the duffers’ lol #fuck them if they do

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rrxnjun · 2 years

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OML OKAY i like john green too <3 i love looking for alaska. i recently read turtles all the way down and oof it hit really hard. next on my tbr is papertowns and then i’ll be done with all of his books (hi i’m obsessed with his writing style hkjg) and ooh i haven’t read any from j.d. salinger. the catcher in the rye is the only book of his i’ve heard of </3 i’ll check him out soon. YUSSSUH i love dystopian books too. dkfjg this just made me realise that they made up almost 60% of my life as a bookworm. the maze runner is my favourite out of all i’ve read !! the adrenaline rush it gave was unparalleled. i’ve also read hunger games, divergent, ready player one and a few more from the dystopian genre but i don’t remember them rn. also unless my physics books count for smth, no i’m not reading anything 😭😭 i was reading war storm by victoria aveyard (the red queen series.) and it’s going good but i’m taking a break bc exams </3

AHHH you play the guitar :0 ? THAT’S SO COOL and no idk how to play any instruments. i have literally no knowledge about instruments so sheet music is just, so weird for me even after a friend tried explaining it gdfgdf i learn classical music tho so i can sing to some extent

OMG YESSS OVERDOSE IS JUST SO HGFKGF it just activates this part in my brain and makes me go grrr. YESS the playlist was literally me putting in my fave of fave songs so i’m glad you like it and kdjfhd i love going crazy too it was in my spotify wrapped’s top 10 last year. OKAYYY since exo is kind of sort of completely dormant rn there’s literally just crumbs and older content left for the fans </3. you can check out this channel and this video. warning: exo-l territory = crackzone NOT EVEN KIDDING this place is wild lmao. expect what you will from neocity’s sunbaenims <3 also lmk your bias so that we can collectively lose it all together <3

gosh i listened to all of fandom’s songs but i felt younger when we met still stays the fave (i said i loved you to death so i must be dead 🙇🏾‍♀️) easy to hate might be a second kjfgd it’s so. good. i’ve been playing it on loop too dfjhdjh

oml pls i really needed to see that 🤧 tysm bar !! i really can’t wait to get into uni ngl i am excited for that. but it’s also slightly weird bc the last year of high school sentiments have finally started hitting and they’re hitting hard </3 it’s funny how we spend sm time with friends we’ve known like, forever, and don’t really treat every moment as smth special till it all comes to an end. ahh i was really planning on making the most of my hs years but pandemic decided to be a pain in the ass. nvm tho. 17 is weird and it feels like time’s running fast i do plan on making sm good memories 💪🏾

NOW BACK TO TALKING AB SM VIP THINGS

THIS AGENDA IS GOING SO STRONG hfjgkdafgdja also oml i did notice that yn doesn't smoke around yangyang after that scene but thought that it was just me being delusional hhh i think ab that fic sm and yangyang just amplified that brainrot by doing this

HEAD EMPTY NO THOUGHTS JUST HE KDJFHGDKF HGD laptop's dying from all the ss i took lol

also the dreamies concert 👀 .. hyuck... renj-?? ... cue my brain giving up

p.s. hihii this took me so long 😭 it’s exam season for like the next 2 weeks so the pressure is finally catching up w me also your words really meant a lot to me tysm for them <3 have a segci day/night and stay safe ily

I MISSED YOU !!!!!!!! im glad youre back 🥺🥺 looking for alaska and turtles all the way down are my most fav from john green!! paper towns was really beautiful and its my friends favorite,, however id say that amongst john green books, id put it somewhere in the bottom tbh. hope you enjoy it tho!! i had to read the catcher in the rye for my exams last year but i surprisingly enjoyed it so much its one of my most fav books now! also the fact that i read and loved all the dystopian books you mentioned 😩😩 taste.

i do play the guitar! not very well tho, i only know the basic chords hhhh so the yy fic was kind of self indulgent in a way LMAO but you can sing?? 😯😯 thats impressive. could never be me i absolutely suck AJJAJA

i will never skip overdose or monster when they come on shuffle theyre just THAT good. i listen to exo a lot recently bc of you😭😭 i watched the videos and WHY ARE THEY SO CHAOTIC i am in love w them SJJS feel free to send more content my way!!! i think my biases are baekhyun (expected) and chanyeol (also expected) 👀👀 literally tell me everything abt them im ready to listen. baek is very funny and chaotic and theres just something abt chanyeol that pulls me to him. i also like sehun tho! idk what this tells abt me feel free to psychoanalyze AHAHHA also kyungsoo is so funny i completely get why you ult him

17 went by so fast for me as well bro and the last year of hs even faster... to think that i didnt have prom bc of corona but i had exams that were cancelled 2 years in a row the previous years 💀 i hope you make the best out of your last year!! i start uni in a week and im shitting my pants its so scARY I DONT KNOW THE CITY OR THE PPL AND THIS GUY I MET ON A PARTY THAT I LOWKEY AVOIDED LIVES THERE AND HE KEEPS REACHING OUT TO ME THROUGH MY FRIEND AND HE ASKED IF I WANNA COME OVER AND NOW IM PANICKING EVEN MORE 😭😭😭😭

yangyang and me are soulmates. its confirmed. also youre not delusional at all it was intended!!! sjsj im honored to hear that you think abt my fic a lot but also YANGYANG UGH that sc !!! instant brainrot. i dont actually think he can play that guitar but its okay 😩😩😩😩

IVE BEEN FREAKING OUT OVER THE DREAM CONCERT EVER SINCE I SAW THE CLIPS. RENJUN GOING WILD IN THAT GLASS BOX AND DONT EVEN MENTION HYUCK BC WHEN HE KISSED THAT GLASS BOX FROM THE INSIDE, I LOST MY MIND. BUT ALSO THEY ARE SUCH GOOD PERFORMERS THEY DID SO WELL AND I LOVE THEM TO DEATH OMG :(((((( LITERALLY CRIED AT RENJUNS MENT! FUN TIMES! :D ALSO DEAR DREAM LIVE. CRIED LITERAL WATERFALLS OF TEARS THAT SONG HURTS SM TO LISTEN TO BUT IS ALSO MY BIGGEST COMFORT OHGOD

have a good day stay safe!! good luck with your exams i love u xx

#💌ask #ni 🌱

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infatuatedpup · 7 months

Text

Omg

This is my blog and I can do what I want

So therefore.. I will gush about how delusional I am about him, ,, this is about S

Case 1 : .. I always show him my fits bc I dress cute yknow and I want him to see lol and he usually says they’re cute .. uhh actually he said it maybe once the other time I ask he just says yes..

Case 2: HE CALLED ME PRINCESS ONCE..

Idk if it was sarcastic or not .. uh he never replied

Case3 : I’m delusional

Case 4: idk I send him memes all the time and he likes it on Insta

Whatever this is …. Like what’s over 👀🤔 we were together? 👀💕💕??

Conclusion: I am super delusional.. Idk why I even like him or want his attention bc he doesn’t give me anything, he makes me anxious .. I’m such an emotional masochist.. like idk why I do this to myself I guess I love a good heartbreak.. it’s been awhile that I’ve had one , like my last heart break was eva .. and idk I’m over it now but I guess I just need to feel something?? I guess I enjoy the pain of having my feelings hurt and the attention well the crumbs I am provided like the bar is on the floor .. like I get so excited when he replies and when he acknowledges me.. and I just eat it up.. like I am getting absolutely nothing from him and yet I want him so badly?? I guess Ive romanticized him so much that I’m having a hard time telling the truth .. it’s like a rush when he does give me attention tho . He definitely feeds into the delusional with the things he says and idk if he knows that he’s feeding into it

I’m just so obsessed with him??? Idk what I want ..

I am yearning n shit tho

Anyways I send him memes and some of them have hints that I like him/want him.

This is literally the folder of memes I collect to send him every day.. like idk what should I do?

#me #mallow speaks💕#s #crush #questioning love

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ootahime · 3 years

Note

Hey again. Gojohime can be canon... I think Gege has left bread crumbs. He may not formalize the couple, but he has definitely put a lot of effort into the little details. I've been submerged in AO3 for several days (lots of beautiful and sexy gojohime fics). If you're going to write a fic, please share it :D Also, can you develop your headcanon about the "you're weak" thing? I'm so curious. I always write to you here, I think there are PM, but I don't want to be rude haha Regards

Sorry for the late response! I started school on the 16th and I'm already bombarded with work LOL😔😔

BTW DON’T BE AFRAID TO PM ME IT’S NOT RUDE AT ALL!

There's a part of me that's convinced that gojohime will be canon. I know it's pretty unrealistic to expect because shounens don't focus on romance. I don't know why but shounen romance is the best romance LOLLL I think it's much more interesting when there's romance in a series that's not mainly about it. It really gives the audience a lot of room to imagine what goes on behind the scenes.

But there's also a part of me that denies this. It would be so cool to have those two be canon, but I don't think it's going to end well for Gojo. In order for there to be progress, he needs to be gone. That's why he's sealed right now. He is simply too strong for even Kenjaku to deal with. It's heartbreaking to think about, but in the end, it'll either be Gojo standing all alone, or everyone else standing without Gojo. Akutami has no mercy :(

At the same time, there are such intricate little details about Gojo and Utahime that I can't help but wonder where Akutami's going with all of this. Of course, I could just be a delusional fan that likes overanalyzing every useless detail. That's always a possibility...

I hate dealing with antis even though I'm also an ichihime, eremika, and sasusaku shipper 👁👁

Even if they can't be together forever, I hope we get more gojohime moments in the manga :D

As for the fanfics, I'm really considering it. I'd love to write on ao3, but I'm afraid my schedule won't permit it. I actually have a draft on ao3 that I wrote over the summer. It was essentially gonna be a collection of gojohime moments--from their first encounter and all the way up to present day. I wanted to capture Gojo slowly realizing, "Shit, I really like her."

UGHHH I HAVE A BUNCH OF IDEAS IN MY NOTES APP THAT I MAY NEVER BE ABLE TO FULFILL </3

Lastly, I completely forgot what the headcanon was. I’ll have to wait until it comes back to me. I think I’ll write about it in my fanfic. If I manage to remember it, I’ll let you guys have a sneak peek :3

I have a Toji and Mamaguro headcanon/one shot. Let me know if anyone is interested hehe...

#gojohime #gouta #gojo x utahime

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psychee92 · 3 years

Text

We are confident that Elriel will be the couple in the next book (or a future book) after tonight because Sarah has confirmed something that we’ve always known: she has been planning Nesta AND Elain’s stories since ACOMAF, and scattered crumbs foreshadowing both their stories throughout the series.

The stage has been set since the beginning—she’s always known what would come and made a point to specifically add scenes/information/breadcrumbs/hints in each book.

We’ve been saying for YEARS (with receipts) that there was something brewing between Azriel and Elain. We’ve been called delusional, attacked for supporting an “incestuous” pairing (the brother/sister argument), told that our ship was a pipe dream that would never come to fruition, and so on.

So excuse us when we take a moment to rejoice in the fact that WE WERE RIGHT. Other than her sisters, Azriel is the only person Elain has established a relationship/connection with throughout the series, the person she has interacted with the most. If you look at the series as a whole, ACTUALLY LOOK, you’ll see what I’m talking about.

Our joy, however, comes from the news that Elain will be getting her own book. Before anything else—any romance—we are all fans of Elain. She’s been hated, insulted, doubted, sidelined by fans for YEARS and, while we’ve always known that she would be getting her own book, hearing it confirmed that she��ll finally get a VOICE, that she’ll finally have the spotlight, is what ultimately overjoys us.

I won’t get into more details—I could spend hours bringing you textual evidence gathered from years and 5 books (ACOSF included) filled with source material—because if you don’t want to see what’s right before your eyes, you won’t. I just wanted to clarify our collective reaction to today’s news.

I think it’s ridiculous that I even have to add this at the end of this post but the fandom has been out of control lately, so here it is: I have nothing against Gwyn or Lucien, and look forward to seeing their own stories unfold on page.

#acosf spoilers #elain archeron #azriel #elriel #pro elain #pro elriel #acotar 5

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mircallablue · 4 years

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So, in the wake of BeauJesters seeming passing, I’m going to take a moment to be more than a little self-indulgent and explain why I love these characters and their unique dynamic so goddamn much, as well as why I’m so disheartened by the way the show seems to be taking them. Warning: essay ahead lol. This is just a rambly rant that I’m writing because it’s cathartic to vent a little bit of frustration, and I love these characters so much. (and I love the entire cast, every goddamn one, and every other character in the show too. This is about love, not hate).

So, for a few brief and wonderful episodes in this campaign, I actually believed that I was being told a love story about falling in love with your best friend, and figuring out your sexuality, while also unlearning all of the untrue lessons that the world taught you about love while you were growing up, and in so doing, finding value in yourself. Which, for me personally, is just super relatable. Like, that ticks every damn box I have lol, which partly explains why I love BeauJester so much, and I know a lot of B/J shippers feel the same. I’ve shipped B/J from super early on, but I never in a million years really believed it would happen, for a lot of reasons. Mostly homophobia, biphobia and heteronormativity. But I enjoyed their dynamic nonetheless, even though I thought (and was often TOLD by other shippers) that it didn’t stand a chance in hell of happening.

So you can imagine how VALIDATING it was when Marisha, both in character and out of game, confirmed that Beau had very significant romantic feelings for Jester. All of the crumbs we’d collected over the course of the campaign were finally coming together and all of the gaslighters who told us we were delusional suddenly had to acknowledge that there was something there. And once it had been acknowledged, it was OBVIOUS. Omg it was so obvious and I loved every second of it. It was so undeniable for the next few episodes, and in hindsight, that there was something building there between them, there was potential. There was definitely a connection between these two characters. And for a few weeks, it was great.

Then Liam - out of character - mentions that Caleb is in love with Jester. And it is immediately, fandom wide, treated with more respect than Marisha and Beau.

I know a lot of people get very very angry when this is brought up, but it is just the ugly, unfortunate reality that a lot of people in this fandom treat Jester like a manic pixie dream girl. Even the people who do not consciously believe her to be that (and I don’t think there are many that genuinely believe it), are perfectly fine /treating her/ like one, as long as it serves one of the straight men that they love so much, usually Caleb. And this is where the heteronormativity comes in. Because even though it was an out-of-game confession with no bearing on canon, Calebs feelings immediately took precedence over Beaus in terms of the fandom narrative.

I personally have never liked the way Liam handles romance in game. He did pretty much the exact same thing in campaign 1 as well, where his sad boy pines after the happy girl from afar until he’s uncontrollably in love with her, and then with no warning he drops it like a bomb. He just happened to drop it out of game this time. The main reason I don’t like this style of romance is because of how (unintentionally) manipulative it is. You see it in bad romcoms all the time. The guy makes a public declaration of love that pressures the girl into reciprocating or looking like the bad guy. But the main reason I don’t like /this particular/ declaration is the timing.

Liam - who has always said he likes things to come out in game - inexplicably decides out of game reveal something as major as Caleb being in love with Jester, right after Marisha IN GAME took steps towards Beau and Jester being together. And it completely changed the narrative. Suddenly it was “top table top table”, and that's if Beaus feelings ever got mentioned at all. It was not at all helped by the fact that a lot of cast members (sam) still pushed Fjorester HARD, even with Jester telling Nott to stop, which must have sucked for Marisha/Beau. But even as recently as episode 99, Beau was still flirting with Jester, and there were definite hints at Jester maybe having unacknowledged feelings for Beau.

Then the hiatus happened. When we return, Beau is throwing herself at Yasha, and there’s not even a song for Jester on her playlist. And then Travis reveals (also out of game, like Liam) that Fjord has feelings for Jester (in a playlist heavily curated by known fjorester, Dani Carr). And even /that/ is treated with more weight by some fans than Beaus in canon confession. And Yasha is having all of these super convenient dreams where Zuala tells her its ok to move on, and Beau and Jester are barely speaking. And now Beau is calling Yasha her GIRLFRIEND? WHAT??? Did I miss 20 secret episodes that aired during hiatus or something???? Beau and Yasha have still, in 107 episodes, only had ONE meaningful conversation and yet their relationship is being treated as deep and inevitable. Sure, you can read into their other interactions if you want. But as a queer person, I am sick to death of my love needing to be represented as subtext.

And so it has become pretty clear that the cast has decided out of game to go in a different direction. And of course they are well within their right to do that. But I just can’t help feeling incredibly disheartened, and again, more than a little bit gas-lighted. It really does seem as if Beaus' feelings for Jester have just been scrubbed from canon - as if they never even happened. All, seemingly, to make way for a typical happy-girl-sad-guy relationship with either Fjord or Caleb, and a typical pair-the-spares barely-any-depth relationship between the two out lesbians because its easy.

For the entirety of campaign 2, BeauJester has been treated as one thing - inconvenient. Inconvenient by the fans, who prefer other ships and have treated BeauJesters terribly, and now it seems, inconvenient by the cast, who have seemingly discarded it and scrubbed it from canon.

And one thing that really upsets me is the amount of genuine viciousness and vitriol coming from (some) BeauYasha shippers. I really wish BeauYasha was something I could get on board with, I do. And a lot of people who are sending me hate seem to assume I don’t want them to end up together. But I would be fine with that. But as it stands, they’ve literally only had one real conversation in 107 episodes, and they’re calling each other girlfriend? While literally having not spoken about anything like that? While one of those characters is supposed to have canon romantic feelings for another woman? Imagine that situation with any other characters and it would be comical.

I swear, the queer ladies in this fandom have been done dirty. All of us. Imagine if, in campaign one, Grog and Keyleth, in episode 107, started calling each other boyfriend/girlfriend in the middle of a battle. (I picked those two because they probably had the fewest moments together of any VM pairing). That’s pretty much what happened here, and we’re supposed to like it - be grateful, even - because it’s wlw rep? And I swear, the number of times I’ve been called lesbophobic in the last month is absurd - all because I’m not comfortable with a canon lesbians canon feelings being swept under the rug. All because I want wlw relationships to be allowed to have the same depth and growth as the straight ones. Yes, even if that relationship is B/Y. We should not settle for less. Imagine if they had done this with any other character's canon feelings for another. People would be angry.

And I know there are going to be a lot of people saying “It’s their game, they can do what they like”.

True. I never said otherwise. But it is also a show. It is a product. They sell merch. It is something that they have taken the time and the steps to make sure that we care about. And this is what that looks like.

I know what happened here isn’t technically queerbaiting, but damn if it doesn’t cut the same.

#critical role #cr spoilers #critical role spoilers #beaujester #cr discourse #i look forward to being called toxic

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vyctoyr · 3 years

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It only takes one search on YouTube for you to understand That this time, our time, is the time to be an artist I have told myself this many times As I read Whitman, or was it Messiaen’s technique musical ?

So many different people, so many different names Each presenting something different With a uniquely thumping heart to offer Some say it’s sad that there’s no longer global idols no more I say the opposite: so what if there’s a plethora of us? So what if nobody hogs the entirety of everybody’s full attention? It does not matter, only for the better

Because without diversity we have nothing, we are nothing It is only through the cross-contamination of pieces of minds From all over this life-supporting planet That true germination could occur This planet, yes, this earth, our terra firma Is something I wish for the swindling Rocket Man to comprehend

There’s nothing wrong about dreaming big Dream bigger, I’d say, bigger than ever That does not mean we should be delusional Floating like rootless aquatic plants Clogging and damaging to our hearts content And then just throw everything away Or toss it, as they say, like a down-trodden, filthy doormat

Maybe after we’ve all heard Nietzsche and understood the great man Maybe after most of us have answered to his equalizing vision Maybe then, it would be the time for humanity to shed Shed all of her past like a tick-infested evening gown For then, we won't need flesh nor blood, skull nor bone Marrow and neurons would be obsolete too And with every physiological gadget out of the question Only then should we really step out of what birthed us That which subsisted and tolerated us Because trust me, I don’t think we are gods just yet

It is truly the time to be an artist Not just because you were just listening to Nirvana And the next minute YouTube takes you to a Sundanese village in West Java Followed by an impromptu visit of Yoshiko Sai from the 70′s Japan Maybe also some Scelsi, Sciarrino, and some tunes by Fela Kuti And don’t you forget the great and glorious Lana Del Rey Not just because, it is always the time to be an artist But also because, now I realized that I’ve said “because” too much But here’s one more: because never has there ever been such a great need Such a great need for compassionate and passionate thinkers Thinkers who think critically about the world, but at the same time Thinkers who are kind and gentle, for art leaves little room for Evil

In our increasingly insane and maddening time We desperately need the peace of mind to grapple with chaos Before we loose the last crumb of humanity And thus descend into an everlasting darkness of collective cruelty The cruelty that has cordially intruded us handsomely And is ready to make his brand new attack on our collapsing rampart Armed with greed wearing an assortment of masks Masks bearing the names of capitalism, racial bigotry, cultural hegemony Most ugly among them the cult of nationalist indignity Fostered and fueled by centralized political powers Which is really the religion of our time Hello again, medieval Catholic Church

This is why I say: it is the right time to be an artist Since to be an artist means the ability to think, to appreciate, to empathize But an artist also knows how to refuse, and what to refuse The artist refuses bad art, for starters The artist refuses coercion, as he/she refuses to bow down before coercion The artist refuses to lower him-/herself to the level a lay-person The artist refuses to entertain for the sake of entertainment For if he/she does that, nothing will ever progress Even though these days slugs crawl faster than the way things progress

The artist refuses lassitude, platitude and cruelty

So to end on a slightly more positive note As I started the poem, or the rambling really Really just with the innocent idea of exclaiming How great it is to be an artist in this era of information technology Per Schoenberg’s opinion, no one with a brain should be shy to use it And our time is the time to be an artist Therefore, be an artist who, first of all, possesses a functional brain And secondly, be an artist who is not too lazy or scared to think To use his/her perfectly functional brain Because they who do art need to know art first

#art #elon musk #eileen chang #arnold schoenberg #artist #ramblings

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katsukikitten · 4 years

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Stood Up

A/N Yall thank my friend for sending me rando tumblr screencaps from well aged posts. I just was like oo good fic idea and now here it is. I finally took time to write it. ENJOY!

Unblinking eyes gaze at you in curiosity mixed heavily with pity as you gulp down your fifth complimentary water.

Fellow diners stare, watching the scene unfold with heavy hearts although it is making good dinner conversation. Your dress now constricting when it was once body con. Hugging your curved

You'd been here long enough to watch couples come and go. Families to sit and laugh all the way through coffee and dessert.

Their gazes feel heavy.

"Are you ready to order yet?" The waitress asks kindly, trying hard to keep the pity off of her face, but you know that she knows "Or perhaps more bread?"

You stare down at the third *empty* basket, you bite the inside of your lip to keep your cool. White hot rage flows through your vein competing against burning embarrassment and the tears collecting in your eyes.

The slim waitress begins to collect the empty baskets, giving you a once over. You feel the pity radiating off of her in waves.

"Just a few more minutes please." You smile politely.

"There is heavy traffic tonight." She smiles back trying to encourage you but all it does is remind you that everyone knows what's happening in this restaurant and it is just *you* who is delusional.

And you're beginning to wonder how long you can tell yourself that traffic really is to blame.

It had been well over an hour from the time agreed upon by both yourself and your supposed date. Your phone is still dry, glass staring up with no notification in sight.

Hell not even a spam email.

Biting rouged lips you dig through your purse for any sort of cash to tip the waitress who so kindly took care of you while you sat their waiting patiently like an idiot.

Stood up.

It wasnt like this was the first time. You'd been stood up before and after giving them fifteen extra minutes of time you'd text them "Dont fucking bother my guy." Before ordering yourself a delicious meal and dessert.

Happy over the result, loving the longer life.

But shit you actually LIKED this guy. It was supposed to be your third date with him. He kissed you and left you at your door step damnit!

Or maybe that should have been hint enough.

A sharp inhale to collect yourself before you pat the 10 on the table. Making sure to keep your head held high when suddenly a strong hand clamps on your shoulder. Keeping you seated.

"Hey baby." He says a little loudly, you look into glittering rubies with a begrudged almost angry look. He flashes a wide tooth smile before kissing you on your cheek. Adding, again slightly above a normal voice.

"There was a crazy accident! I left the uber and had to walk here. And you know me I can't keep my phone charged to save my life."

The chair across from you slides across dark hardwood floors before it is settled into. A wink of shining rubies as you stare with now heated eyes.

"Play along? The names Kirishima Eijiro." He winks again.

Who the fuck was this guy?

Dressed in black with a blazing red tie, black vest and matching black shirt sleeves rolled to his forearms.

Why the fuck did he sit down across from you?

And why the fuck wasn't he scared of the death glare you were giving him?

Before you can ask the waitress comes over, giving Kirishima a slight glare.

A glance of "You better be paying" and "You better buy the gorgeous lady dessert!"

It does not go unnoticed by the red head, who happily takes the blame for the delay.

Better than the latter, which was you, this stunningly beautiful woman was being stood up.

It was unmanly. Not to mention it was hurting his heart.

"Bring a bottle of..." He glances to you, giving you a once over before a smile creep along his soft lips, "Actually make it a whiskey neat and a nice rum and coke?"

"Coming right up. Do you need a few moments?" She glances over the two of you, the waitress must know how famished you were. Well he sat across from you, enduring your harshest of glares, so a little pressure wouldn't hurt.

"Eijiro, order for me please *baby*?" You purr, folding up your menu, he takes your request with stride.

Shooting in the dark and hoping for the best.

"She'll have the parm crusted chicken, side caesar salad with the dressing on the side and fries." He winks your way, a smirk slides onto your lips, "I'll have the sirloin, rare to medium rare please and a loaded baked potato."

"Coming right up." She smiles, collecting the menus before happily waltzing to the order board.

You lean forward, a signature cat smile plastered on your lips.

"Not bad. Not bad." You take a sip of your refilled water, "It was Eijiro right?"

He laughs, its warm and kind, causing your stomach to flutter.

"Yes, I didn't catch your name?" He leans closer as you lean back, guarded.

"First, you have to answer why you decided to sit down across from me."

His everlasting smile falters for just a moment. He swallows, debating on answering truthfully or with a lie.

He thinks better of it.

"I didn't like the idea of such stunning fiercoity to be stood up. It was unmanly of your date and...." He waits for the waitress to set your drinks down before continuing, "Dickish."

It is your turn to laugh aloud as you watch a small blush creep upon his cheeks, bringing out the brightness of his eyes. You were truly in the presence of a gentleman, what with him waiting before cursing and speaking so lowly.

While you would have been brash, loud, and uncaring.

He relishes the sound of your sultry laugh, making him wonder what other parts of you were this...this intensely breathtaking.

He quiets some of his dirtier thoughts as he swallows down his desire with the whiskey.

"So you just happened to see me?" You nurse your own drink.

"Yes and no, I hear a couple talking about it on their way out. I was supposed to be with my friends tonight." His eyes roam the room, he smiles and you follow his gaze, "Well more of a work meeting."

A small group with a rowdy ash blonde, a quiet jade haired man, a petite chestnut brown haired woman and a man with a mop of mostly white hair.

For once in your life you feel a little guilty, his group of friends/co workers look fun.

You shouldn't be stealing him away just because he was saving you a bit of embarrassment.

"Oh, go back to them. I've eaten alone plenty of times." You smile his way, "I can cancel our orders."

"Oh no, like I said I'm not about to allow such a stunning fiercoity such as yourself to sit alone." He leans closer, his voice hushed and laced with concern, "Plus you looked....lonely. You must have liked him?"

Seeing him so worried about a strangers emotional state has your stomach in knots, your drink goes down easy before you shrug your shoulders.

"Key word, *liked*" You smile devilishly at him, a set of sharp teeth greet you in return.

"So what do you do for a living that you can have a meeting at a five star restaurant?" Curiosity finally getting the better of you as you pay what was supposed to be his table a final glance.

He let's out a low sigh, it sounds tired to you.

"Hero work." His smile is a fraction of its normal luster.

Or what you considered normal in the past twenty minutes or so.

"Ah, hard work I'm sure. Cheers." You clink his glass, "To you and your crew for keeping us all safe."

He gives you a pondering look before his smile returns to normal.

"Cheers." A quick swallow before your food is set before you.

Both of you sitting in comfortable silence. You watch as he cuts into his steak, the muscles in his arms contracting with each movement. Struggling to stay in his shirt at times, although the shirt did not seem too tight.

You smile as a devilish idea takes over, you stab one of his extra bites, the steak melts in your mouth. Biting back a moan as you savor the flavor.

You cut him a piece of your chicken, he goes to take your fork from your delicate, yet deadly, hand before you pull back.

He looks at you with furrowed brows before he catches on as you gently tilt the fork towards him. He takes a bite, holding eye contact before sliding off the piece of meat.

The chicken dances along his tongue melding with the crusted buttery bread crumbs and cheese.

Your heart slams into your chest, demanding to be heard.

Hell seen with how hard its ramming into your ribcage, wanting to burst free for the first time in a long time.

Another smile spreads across your slightly flushed cheeks.

All the while Kirishima cannot help but imagine what a devine creature such as yourself would taste like.

Sweet.

At least that's what he thought.

"What do you do for a living?" Knife slicing through tender beef. A pause on your end as you debate should you lie or tell the truth.

Well, the date wasn't going awfully, it wouldn't be a bad idea for one of your dates to know the truth.

"I'm a writer."

"What no way?! Like for the paper or published?" You swallow your worry.

"Published."

"Is that why you have yet to give me your name?" He peers up at you attempting to read your body language.

Only when you laughed was your guard down.

It had been partially if not mostly up for majority if this going on hour.

You paused, is that why you always used a pseudonym for fear that someone would put two and two together?

That they may have read your work?

And what if they hated it?

So fucking what if they did, you remind yourself with a sip of your liquor.

"Guess." Another famous cat smile. Kirishima ponders, fork and knife forgotten as he thinks.

"Oh! You do the crime books with that bad ass mob boss woman!" He snaps his fingers to attempt to remember, "'A Lone Red Rose,' ugh it's been on my reading list forever!"

"You're lying." You giggle but when his face becomes crestfallen you almost retreat your half tease half accusation.

A lot of firsts were happening for you tonight.

"Y/LN, you're a best freaking seller! I've been dying to know but never have time. I'm on the first chapter. I'm where the main crooks right hand man's wife gets SNATCHED in the middle of the night! I'm on the edge of my seat but I lost my book and hadn't had time to get a new one." He kinda sulks at the end.

"What happened to it?" Curiosity dances along your tone.

"Oh well Bakugou, the blonde at the table, " A point of your fork and a spy of your eye, "He had to blow up our steak out car to divert the perpetrator from hurting a civilian. He gave me the money for it three fold but I have yet to make it to the store."

"Ah." Is all you offer as you gaze over at his much different life.

Your newly banded tattoo seems to itch extra tonight, you choose to ignore it as another question comes out.

"But I've read so many reviews! Everyone speculates if you've done hero work before, or even shadowing. Some think you're writing your life. I'm guessing shadowing. Am I right?" He looks at you with expectant eyes and you smile warmly to him.

He was kind, unsuspected and reminded you so much of sunshine.

"Who's to say it's not my life?" You giggle and he laughs as well.

"Well the main love interest, again from what I heard, sounds explosive, temper wise. So unless Bakugou is a Mob Boss' son then I'm finding that highly doubtful." His laughter is contagious and you join in once more.

Let this be as it is and as he thinks.

"Ah yes, that would be a funny thought.: You glance at the table again before returning to that glittering gaze, "But you're right. I shadowed heroes in abroad. America actually before my Father sent me here."

"Oh what for?"

"To expand his business. I only just decided to go along with it." You bat long lashes his way.

He orders dessert, the two of you get along quite nicely before he insists he walks you to either the train station or a cab.

"I'll be fine. I'm not helpless or quirkless." It almost comes out a snarl, he places your coat onto your shoulders anyway.

"I would never think that of you. Any woman is capable of defending herself. But I was raised to aid anyway. Please do not take offense my love." He blushes at the end, realizing too late how real that sounded. You curl into the crook of his arm as he places his hand on your hip.

"Thank you my love." You smile up at him only to be pulled closer. He walks you to the curb in front of the restaurant to the idling dark car.

Your idling dark car, with a scarred looking driver. He blinks as the scene gives him a ghost of a feeling. He shakes it off. He goes to open your door for you, stopping just above the handle.

"Oh one more thing." A heavy blush rushes into his cheeks. Suddenly he is nervous, "May I have your time again? For a real date?"

You look deep into his eyes for deception and when you find none your smile.

Another genuine, heart melting smile before you lean up to him. Pressing your lips to his softly, swiping your tongue over his lips for a moment, hinging at what the two of you could be.

It all just depends on your mood and how much you cared to reveal.

He was a hero after all.

But he was so damn handsome.

"Eijiro, that's the realest date I've been on in a long time. Your phone?" You hold out your hand and his face fall.

"I didn't lie about it being dead." He scratches the back of your head and you pull out yours. He gives you his number that you text a winky face too before he opens your door.

Totally lapping up the presence of a true fucking gentleman. Hopefully that only went so far into the bedroom.

You looked at him through the tinted glass before rummaging around in the back seat. Your hands finding purchase on the cracking spine.

Ink slides across paper in a smooth concession before you roll the window down, peeking over it.

"For you." You smirk, "Let me know what you think when you've finished."

"I..I will!" He says as your roll your window up, the driver pulling away giving you a look.

"Madame, you realize that was Red Riot right?" He asks, concern melting into rage that he would dare touch you

"Yes, I know." Cat smile painting your lips.

"Oi! You stood us up to not even fuck?!" Bakugou have snarls, half teases when he finds him out on the curb.

"I got her number."

"Tch, come on let's go. Glad you finally got a copy of that damn book you won't shut the hell up about. You reread it so much that it was falling apart. I did you a favor that day."

"Haha yea Thanks Katsuki." Another suck at the blondes teeth.

Kirishima knew it was you the second he heard you laugh, he had read your book countless times.

He had an idea of who you were.

But he had no idea that his glittering Ruby eyes were staring down at a fortune. The very first and test print of your book, now adorned with your signature and lipstick mark on the front page.

To my hero for the night. 💋

#kirishima x reader #eijirou x reader #eijiro x reader #bnha x reader #bnha au #bnha kirishima #bnha red riot #bnha fanfiction #bnha imagine

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grigori77 · 4 years

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2019 in Movies - My Top 30 Fave Movies (Part 1)

30. GLASS – back in 2000, I went from liking the work of The Sixth Sense’s writer-director M. Night Shyamalan to becoming a genuine FAN thanks to his sneakily revisionist deconstruction of superhero tropes, Unbreakable. It’s STILL my favourite film of his to date, and one of my Top Ten superhero movies EVER, not just a fascinating examination of the mechanics of the genre but also a very satisfying screen origin story – needless to say I’m one of MANY fans who’ve spent nearly two decades holding out hope for a sequel. Flash forward to 2016 and Shyamalan’s long-overdue return-to-form sleeper hit, Split, which not only finally put his career back on course but also dropped a particularly killer end twist by actually being that very sequel. Needless to say 2019 was the year we FINALLY got our PROPER reward for all our patience – Glass is the TRUE continuation of the Unbreakable universe and the closer of a long-intended trilogy. Turns out, though, that it’s also his most CONTROVERSIAL film for YEARS, dividing audiences and critics alike with its unapologetically polarizing plot and execution – I guess that, after a decade of MCU and a powerhouse trilogy of Batman movies from Chris Nolan, we were expecting an epic, explosive action-fest to close things out, but that means we forgot exactly what it is about Shyamalan we got to love so much, namely his unerring ability to subvert and deconstruct whatever genre he’s playing around in. And he really doesn’t DO spectacle, does he? That said, this film is still a surprisingly BIG, sprawling piece of work, even if it the action is, for the most part, MUCH more internalised than most superhero movies. Not wanting to drop any major spoilers on the few who still haven’t seen it, I won’t give away any major plot points, suffice to say that ALL the major players from both Unbreakable and Split have returned – former security guard David Dunn (Bruce Willis) has spent the past nineteen years exploring his super-strength and near-invulnerability while keeping Philadelphia marginally safer as hooded vigilante the Overseer, and the latest target of his crime-fighting crusade is Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy), the vessel of 24 split personalities collectively known as the Horde, who’s continuing his cannibalistic serial-murder spree through the streets. Both are being hunted by the police, as well as Dr. Ellie Staple (series newcomer Sarah Paulson), a clinical psychiatrist specialising in treating individuals who suffer the delusional belief that they’re superheroes, her project also encompassing David’s former mentor-turned-nemesis Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson), the eponymous Mr. Glass, whose life-long suffering from a crippling bone disease that makes his body dangerously fragile has done nothing to blunt the genius-level intellect that’s made him a ruthlessly accomplished criminal mastermind. How these remarkable individuals are brought together makes for fascinating viewing, and while it may be a good deal slower and talkier than some might have preferred, this is still VERY MUCH the Shyamalan we first came to admire – fiendishly inventive, slow-burn suspenseful and absolutely DRIPPING with cool earworm dialogue, his characteristically mischievous sense of humour still present and correct, and he’s retained that unswerving ability to wrong-foot us at every turn, right up to one of his most surprising twist endings to date. The cast are, as ever, on fire, the returning hands all superb while those new to the universe easily measure up to the quality of talent on display – Willis and Jackson are, as you’d expect, PERFECT throughout, brilliantly building on the incredibly solid groundwork laid in Unbreakable, while it’s a huge pleasure to see Anya Taylor-Joy, Spencer Treat Clark (a fine actor we don’t see NEARLY enough of, in my opinion) and Charlayne Woodard get MUCH bigger, more prominent roles this time out, while Paulson delivers an understated but frequently mesmerising turn as the ultimate unshakable sceptic. As with Split, however, the film is comprehensively stolen by McAvoy, whose truly chameleonic performance actually manages to eclipse its predecessor in its levels of sheer genius. Altogether this is another sure-footed step in the right direction for a director who’s finally regained his singular auteur prowess – say what you will about that ending, but it certainly is a game-changer, as boldly revisionist as anything that’s preceded it and therefore, in my opinion, exactly how it SHOULD have gone. If nothing else, this is a film that should be applauded for its BALLS …

29. THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON – quite possibly the year’s most adorable indie, this dramatic feature debut from documentarian writer-directors Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz largely snuck in under the radar on release, but has gone on to garner some well-deserved critical appreciation and sleeper hit success. The lion’s share of the film’s success must surely go to the inspired casting, particularly in the central trio who drive the action – Nilson and Schwartz devised the film with Zack Gotsagen, an exceptionally talented young actor with Down’s Syndrome, specifically in mind for the role of Zak, a wrestling obsessive languishing in a North Carolina retirement home who dreams of escaping his stifling confines and going to the training camp of his hero, the Saltwater Redneck (Thomas Haden Church), where he can learn to become a pro wrestler; after slipping free, Zak enlists the initially wary help of down-at-heel criminal fisherman Tyler (Shia LaBaouf) in reaching his intended destination, while the pair are pursued by Zak’s primary caregiver, Eleanor (Dakota Johnson). Needless to say the unlikely pair bond on the road, and when Eleanor is reluctantly forced to tag along with them, a surrogate family is formed … yeah, the plot is so predictable you can see every twist signposted from miles back, but that familiarity is never a problem because these characters are so lovingly written and beautifully played that you’ve fallen for them within five minutes of meeting them, so you’re effortlessly swept along for the ride. The three leads are pure gold – this is the most laid back and cuddly Shia’s been for years, but his lackadaisical charm is pleasingly tempered with affecting pathos driven by a tragic loss in Tyler’s recent past, while Johnson is sensible, sweet and likeably grounded, even when Eleanor’s at her most exasperated, but Gotsagen is the real surprise, delivering an endearingly unpredictable, livewire performance that blazes with true, honest purity and total defiance in the face of any potential difficulties society may try to throw at Zak – while there’s excellent support from Church in a charmingly awkward late-film turn that goes a long way to reminding us just what an acting treasure he is, as well as John Hawkes and rapper Yelawolf as a pair of lowlife crab-fishermen hunting for Tyler, intending to wreak (not entirely undeserved) revenge on him for an ill-judged professional slight. Enjoying a gentle sense of humour and absolutely CRAMMED with heartfelt emotional heft, this really was one of the most downright LOVEABLE films of 2019.

28. PET SEMATARY – first off, let me say that I never saw the 1989 feature adaptation of Stephen King’s story, so I have no comparative frame of reference there – I WILL say, however, that the original novel is, in my opinion, one of the strongest offerings from America’s undisputed master of literary horror, so any attempt made to bring it to the big screen had better be a good one. Thankfully, this version more than delivers in that capacity, proving to be one of the more impressive of his cinematic outings in recent years (not quite up to the standard of The Mist or It Chapter 1, perhaps, but certainly on a par with the criminally overlooked 1408), as well as one of the year’s top horror offerings. This may be the feature debut of directing double-act Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer, but they both display a wealth of natural talent here, wrangling bone-chilling scares and a pervading atmosphere of oppressive dread to deliver a top-notch screen fright-fest that works its way under your skin and stays put for days after. Jason Clarke is a classic King everyman hero as Boston doctor Louis Creed, displaced to the small Maine town of Ludlow as he trades the ER for a quiet clinic practice so he can spent more time with his family – Amy Seimetz (Upstream Color, Stranger Things), excellent throughout as his haunted, emotionally fragile wife Rachel, toddler son Gage (twins Hugo and Lucas Lavole), and daughter Ellie (newcomer Jeté Laurence, BY FAR the film’s biggest revelation, delivering to the highest degree even when her role becomes particularly intense). Their new home seems idyllic, the only blots being the main road at the end of their drive which experiences heavy traffic from speeding trucks, and the children’s pet cemetery in the woods at the back of their garden, which has become something of a local landmark. But there’s something far darker in the deeper places beyond, an ancient place of terrible power Louis is introduced to by their well-meaning but ultimately fallible elderly neighbour Jud (one of the best performances I’ve ever seen from screen legend John Lithgow) when his daughter’s beloved cat Church is run over. The cat genuinely comes back, but he’s irrevocably changed, the once gentle and lovable furball now transformed into a menacingly mangy little psychopath, and his resurrection sets off a chain of horrific events destined to devour the entire family … this is supernatural horror at its most inherently unnerving, mercilessly twisting the screws throughout its slow-burn build to the inevitable third act bloodbath and reaching a bleak, soul-crushing climax that comes close to rivalling the still unparalleled sucker-punch of The Mist – the adaptation skews significantly from King’s original at the mid-point, but even purists will be hard-pressed to deny that this is still VERY MUCH in keeping with the spirit of the book right up to its harrowing closing shot. The King of Horror has been well served once again – fans can rest assured that his dark imagination continues to inspire some truly great cinematic scares …

27. THE REPORT – the CIA’s notorious use of torture to acquire information from detainees in Guantanamo Bay and various other sites around the world in the wake of September 11, 2001, has been a particularly spiky political subject for years now, one which has gained particular traction with cinema-goers over the years thanks to films like Rendition and, of course, controversial Oscar-troubler Zero Dark Thirty. It’s also a particular bugbear of screenwriter Scott Z. Burns (The Bourne Ultimatum, Contagion, Side Effects) – his parents are both psychologists, and he found it particularly offensive that a profession he knows was created to help people could have been turned into such a damaging weapon against the human psyche, inexorably leading him to taking up this passion project, championed by its producer, and Burns’ long-time friend and collaborator, Steven Soderbergh. It tells the true story of Senate staffer Daniel Jones’ five-year battle to bring his damning 6,300-page study of the CIA’s enhanced interrogation program, commissioned by the Senate Intelligence Committee, into the light of day in the face of increasingly intense and frequently underhanded resistance from the Agency and various high-ranking officials within the US Government whose careers could be harmed should their own collusion be revealed. In lesser hands this could have been a clunky, unappetisingly dense excuse for a slow-burn political thriller that drowned in its own exposition, but Burns handles the admittedly heavyweight material with deft skill and makes each increasingly alarming revelation breathlessly compelling while he ratchets up the tension by showing just what a seemingly impossible task Jones and his small but driven team faced. The film would have been nought, however, without a strong cast, and this one has a killer – taking a break from maintaining his muscle-mass for Star Wars, Adam Driver provides a suitably robust narrative focus as Jones, an initially understated workman who slowly transforms into an incensed moral crusader as he grows increasingly filled with righteous indignation by the vile subject matter he’s repeatedly faced with, and he’s provided with sterling support from the likes of Annette Bening, delivering her best performance in years as Senator Dianne Feinstein, Jones’ staunchest supporter, the ever-wonderful Ted Levine as oily CIA director John O. Brennan, Tim Blake Nelson as a physician contracted by the CIA to assist with interrogations who became genuinely disgusted by the horrors he witnessed, and Matthew Rhys as an unnamed New York Times reporter Jones considers leaking the report to when it looks like it might never be released. This is powerful stuff, and while it may only mark Burns’ second directorial feature (after his obscure debut Pu-239), he handles the gig like a seasoned pro, milking the material for every drop of dramatic tension while keeping the narrative as honest, forthright and straightforward as possible, and the end result makes for sobering, distressing and thoroughly engrossing viewing. Definitely one of the most important films not only of 2019, but of the decade itself, and one that NEEDS to be seen.

26. DARK PHOENIX – wow, this really has been a year for mistreated sequels, hasn’t it? There’s a seriously stinky cloud of controversy surrounding what is now, in light of recent developments between Disney and Twentieth Century Fox, the last true Singer-era X-Men movie, a film which saw two mooted release dates (first November 2018 then the following February, before finally limping onto screens with very little fanfare in June 2019, almost as if Fox wanted to bury it. Certainly rumours of its compromise were rife, particularly regarding supposed rushed reshoots because of clashing similarities with Marvel’s major tent-pole release Captain Marvel (and given the all-conquering nature of the MCU there was no way they were having that, was there?), so like many I was expecting a clunky mess, maybe even a true stinker to rival X-Men Origins: Wolverine. In truth, while it’s not perfect, the end result is nothing like the turd we all feared – the final film is, in fact, largely a success, worthy of favourable comparison with its stronger predecessors. It certainly makes much needed amends for the disappointing mismanagement of the source comics’ legendary Dark Phoenix saga in 2006’s decidedly compromised original X-Men trilogy capper The Last Stand, this time treating the story with the due reverence and respect it deserves as well as serving as a suitably powerful send-off for more than one beloved key character. Following the “rebooted” path of the post-Days of Future Past timeline, it’s now 1992, and after the world-changing events of Apocalypse the X-Men have become a respected superhero team with legions of fans and their own personal line to the White House, while mutants at large have mostly become accepted by the regular humans around them. Then a hastily planned mission into space takes a turn for the worst and Jean Grey (Game of Thrones’ Sophie Turner) winds up absorbing an immensely powerful, thoroughly inexplicable cosmic force that makes her powers go haywire while also knocking loose repressed childhood traumas Professor Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) would rather had stayed buried, sending her on a dangerous spiral out of control which leads to a destructive confrontation and the inadvertent death of a teammate. Needless to say, the situation soon becomes desperate as Jean goes on the run and the world starts to turn against them all once again … all in all, then, it’s business as usual for the cast and crew of one of Fox’s flagship franchises, and it SHOULD have gone off without a hitch. When Bryan Singer opted not to return this time around (instead setting his sights on Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody), key series writer Simon Kinberg stepped into the breach for his directorial debut, and it turns out he’s got a real talent for it, giving us just the kind of robust, pacy, thrilling action-packed epic his compatriot would have delivered, filled with the same thumping great set-pieces (the final act’s stirring, protracted train battle is the unequivocal highlight here), well-observed character beats and emotional resonance we’ve come to expect from the series as a whole (then again, he does know these movies back to frond having at least co-written his fair share). The cast, similarly, are all on top form – McAvoy and Michael Fassbender (as fan favourite Erik Lehnsherr, aka Magneto) know their roles so well now they can do this stuff in their sleep, but we still get to see them explore interesting new facets of their characters (particularly McAvoy, who gets to reveal an intriguing dark side to the Professor we’ve only ever seen hinted at before now), while Turner finally gets to really breathe in a role which felt a little stiff and underexplored in her series debut in Apocalypse (she EASILY forges the requisite connective tissue to Famke Janssen’s more mature and assured take in the earlier films); conversely Tye Sheridan (Cyclops), Alexandra Shipp (Storm), Kodi Smit-McPhee (Nightcrawler) and Evan Peters (Quicksilver) get somewhat short shrift but nonetheless do A LOT with what little they have, and at least Jennifer Lawrence and Nicholas Hoult still get to do plenty of dramatic heavy lifting as the last of Xavier’s original class, Raven (Mystique) and Hank McCoy (Beast); the only real weak link in the cast is the villain, Vuk, a shape-shifting alien whose quest to seize the power Jean’s appropriated is murkily defined at best, but at least Jessica Chastain manages to invest her with enough icy menace to keep things from getting boring. All in all, then, this is very much a case of business as usual, Kinberg and co keeping the action thundering along at a suitably cracking pace throughout (powered by a typically epic score from Hans Zimmer), and the film only really comes off the rails in its final moments, when that aforementioned train finally comes off its tracks and the reported reshoots must surely kick in – as a result this is, to me, most reminiscent of previous X-flick The Wolverine, which was a rousing success for the majority of its runtime, only coming apart in its finale thanks to that bloody ridiculous robot samurai. The climax is, therefore, a disappointment, too clunky and sudden and overly neat in its denouement (we really could have done with a proper examination of the larger social impact of these events), but it’s little enough that it doesn’t spoil what came before … which just makes the film’s mismanagement and resulting failure, as well as its subsequent treatment from critics and fans alike, all the more frustrating. This film deserved much better, but ultimately looks set to be disowned and glossed over by most of the fanbase as the property as a whole goes through the inevitable overhaul now that Disney/Marvel owns Fox and plans to bring the X-Men and their fellow mutants into the MCU fold. I feel genuinely sorry for the one remaining X-film, The New Mutants, which is surely destined for spectacular failure after its similarly shoddy round of reschedules finally comes to an end this summer …

25. IT CHAPTER 2 – back in 2017, Mama director Andy Muschietti delivered the first half of his ambitious two-film adaptation of one of Stephen King’s most popular and personal novels, which had long been considered un-filmable (the 90s miniseries had a stab, but while it deserves its cult favourite status it certainly fell short in several places) until Muschietti and screenwriters Cary Joji Fukunaga and Gary Dauberman seemingly did the impossible, and the end result was the top horror hit of the year. Ultimately, then, it was gonna be a tough act to follow, and there was MAJOR conjecture whether they could repeat that success with this second half. Would lightning strike twice? Well, the simple answer is … mostly. 2017’s Chapter 1 was a stone-cold masterpiece, and one of the strongest elements in its favour was the extremely game young cast of newcomers and relative unknown child actors who brought the already much beloved Loser’s Club to perfectly-cast life, a seven-strong gang of gawky pre-teen underdogs you couldn’t help loving, which made it oh-so-easy to root for them as they faced off against that nightmarish shape-shifting child-eating monster, Pennywise the Dancing Clown. It was primal, it was terrifying, and it was BURSTING with childhood nostalgia that thoroughly resonated with an audience hungry for more 80s-set coming-of-age genre fare after the runaway success of Stranger Things. Bringing the story into the present day with the Losers now returning to their childhood home of Derry, Maine as forty-something adults, Chapter 2 was NEVER going to achieve the same pulse-quickening electric charge the first film pulled off, was it? Thankfully, with the same director and (mostly) the same writing crew on hand (Fukunaga jumped ship but Dauberman was there to finish up with the help of Jason Fuchs and an uncredited Jeffrey Jurgensen) there’s still plenty of that old magic left over, so while it’s not quite the same second time round, this still feels very much like the same adventure, just older, wiser and a bit more cynical. Here’s a more relevant reality check, mind – those who didn’t approve of the first film’s major changes from the book are going to be even more incensed by this, but the differences here are at least organic and in keeping with the groundwork laid in Chapter 1, and indeed this film in particular is a VERY different beast from the source material, but these differences are actually kind of a strength here, Muschietti and co. delivering something that works MUCH better cinematically than a more faithful take would have. Anyway, the Loser’s Club are back, all grown up and (for the most part) wildly successful living FAR AWAY from Derry with dream careers and seemingly perfect lives. Only Mike Hanlon has remained behind to hold vigil over the town and its monstrous secret, and when a new spree of disappearances and grisly murders begins he calls his old friends back home to fulfil the pact they all swore to uphold years ago – stop Pennywise once and for all. The new cast are just as excellent as their youthful counterparts – Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy are, of course, the big leads here as grown up Beverley Marsh and Bill Denbrough, bringing every watt of star power they can muster, but the others hold more interest, with Bill Hader perfectly cast (both director and child actor’s personal first choice) as smart-mouth Richie Tozier, Isaiah Mustafah (best known as the Old Spice guy from those hilarious commercials) playing VERY MUCH against type as Mike, Jay Ryan (successful on the small screen in Top of the Lake and Beauty & the Beast, but very much getting his cinematic big break here) as a slimmed-down and seriously buffed-out Ben Hanscom, James Ransone (Sinister) as neurotic hypochondriac Eddie Kaspbrak, and Andy Bean (Power, the recent Swamp Thing series) as ever-rational Stan Uris – but we still get to hang out with the original kids too in new flashbacks that (understandably) make for some of the film’s best scenes, while Bill Skarsgard is as terrifying as ever as he brings new ferocity, insidious creepiness and even a touch of curious back-story to Pennywise. I am happy to report this new one IS just as scary as its predecessor, a skin-crawling, spine-tingling, pants-wetting cold sweat of a horror-fest that works its way in throughout its substantial running time and, as before, sticks with you LONG after the credits have rolled, but it’s also got the same amount of heart, emotional heft and pathos, nostalgic charm (albeit more grown-up and sullied) and playful, sometimes decidedly mischievous geeky humour, so that as soon as you’re settled in it really does feel like you’ve come home. It’s also fiendishly inventive, the final act in particular skewing in some VERY surprising new directions that there’s NO WAY you’ll see coming, and the climax also, interestingly, redresses one particularly frustrating imbalance that always bugged me about the book, making for an especially moving, heartbreaking denouement. Interestingly, there’s a running joke in the film that pokes fun at a perceived view from some quarters that Stephen King’s endings often disappoint – there’s no such fault with THIS particular adaptation. For me, this was altogether JUST the concluding half I was hoping for, so while it’s not as good as the first, it should leave you satisfied all the same.

24. MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN – it’s taken Edward Norton twenty years to get his passion project adaptation of Jonathan Lethem’s novel to the big screen, but the final film was certainly worth the wait, a cool-as-ice noir thriller in which its writer-director also, of course, stars as one of the most unusual ‘tecs around. Lionel Essrog suffers from Tourette syndrome, prone to uncontrollable ticks and vocal outbursts as well as obsessive-compulsive spirals that can really ruin his day, but he’s also got a genius-level intellect and a photographic memory, which means he’s the perfect fit for the detective agency of accomplished, highly successful New York gumshoe Frank Minna (Bruce Willis). But when their latest case goes horribly wrong and Frank dies in a back-alley gunfight, the remaining members of the agency are left to pick up the pieces and try to find out what went wrong, Lionel battling his own personal, mental and physical demons as he tries to unravel an increasingly labyrinthine tangle of lies, deceit, corporate corruption and criminal enterprise that reaches to the highest levels of the city’s government. Those familiar with the original novel will know that it’s set in roughly the present day, but Norton felt many aspects of the story lent themselves much better to the early 1950s, and it really was a good choice – Lionel is a man very much out his time, a very odd fit in an age of stuffy morals and repression, while the themes of racial upheaval, rampant urban renewal and massive, unchecked corporate greed feel very much of the period. Besides, there’s few things as seductive than a good noir thriller, and Norton has crafted a real GEM right here. The pace can be a little glacial at times, but this simply gives the unfolding plot and extremely rich collection of characters plenty of room to grow, while the jazzy score (from up-and-comer Daniel Pemberton, composer on Steve Jobs, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) provides a surprising complimentary accompaniment to the rather free-form narrative style and Lionel’s own scattershot, bebop style. Norton is exceptional in the lead, landing his best role in years with an exquisitely un-self-conscious ease that makes for thoroughly compelling viewing (surely more than one nod will be due come awards-season), but he doesn’t hog ALL the limelight, letting his uniformly stellar supporting cast shine bright as well – Willis doesn’t get a huge amount of screen time, but delivers a typically strong, nuanced performance that makes his absence throughout the rest of the film keenly felt, Gugu Mbatha-Raw continues to build an impressive run of work as Laura, the seemingly unimportant woman Lionel befriends, who could actually be the key to the whole case, Alec Baldwin is coolly menacing as power-hungry property magnate and heavyweight city official Moses Randolph, the film’s nominal big-bad, Willem Dafoe is absolutely electrifying as his down-at-heel, insignificant genius brother Lou, and Boardwalk Empire’s Michael K. Williams is quietly outstanding as mysterious jazz musician Trumpet Man, while Bobby Canavale, Ethan Suplee and Dallas Roberts are all excellent as the other hands in Minna’s detective agency. It’s a chilled-out affair, happy to hang back and let its slow-burn plot simmer while Lionel tries to navigate his job and life in general while battling his many personal difficulties, but due to the incredible calibre of the talent on offer, the incredibly rich dialogue and obligatory hardboiled gumshoe voiceover, compelling story and frequently achingly beautiful visuals, this is about as compulsively rewarding as cinema gets. Norton’s crafted a film noir worthy of comparison with the likes of L.A. Confidential and Chinatown, proving that he’s a triple-threat cinematic talent to be reckoned with.

23. PROSPECT – I love a good cinematic underdog, there’s always some dynamite indies and sleepers that just about slip through the cracks that I end up championing every year, and one of 2019’s favourites was a minor sensation at 2018’s South By Southwest film festival, a singularly original ultra-low-budget sci-fi adventure that made a genuine virtue of its miniscule budget. Riffing on classic eco-minded space flicks like Silent Running, it introduces a father-and-daughter prospecting team who land a potentially DEEPLY lucrative contract mining for an incredibly rare element on a toxic jungle moon – widower Damon (Transparent’s Jay Duplass), who’s downtrodden and world-weary but still a dreamer, and teenager Cee (relative newcomer Sophie Thatcher), an introverted bookworm with hidden reserves of ingenuity and fortitude. The job starts well, Damon setting his sights on a rumoured “queen’s layer” that could make them rich beyond their wildest dreams, but when they meet smooth-talking scavenger Ezra (Narcos’ Pedro Pascal), things take a turn for the worse – Damon is killed and Cee is forced to team up with Ezra to have any hope for survival on this hostile, unforgiving moon. Thatcher is an understated joy throughout, her seemingly detached manner belying hidden depths of intense feeling, while Pascal, far from playing a straight villain, turns Ezra into something of a tragic, charismatic antihero we eventually start to sympathise with, and the complex relationship that develops between them is a powerful, mercurial thing, the constantly shifting dynamic providing a powerful driving force for the film. Debuting writer-directors Zeek Earl and Chris Caldwell have crafted a wonderfully introspective, multi-layered tone poem of aching beauty, using subtle visual effects and a steamy, glow-heavy colour palette to make the lush forest environs into something nonetheless eerie and inhospitable, while the various weird and colourful denizens of this deadly little world prove that Ezra may be the LEAST of the dangers Cee faces in her quest for escape. Inventive, intriguing and a veritable feast for the eyes and intellect, this is top-notch indie sci-fi and a sign of great things to come from its creators, thoroughly deserving of major cult recognition in the future.

22. DRAGGED ACROSS CONCRETE – S. Craig Zahler is a writer-director who’s become a major fixture on my ones-to-watch list in recent years, instantly winning me over with his dynamite debut feature Bone Tomahawk before cementing that status with awesome follow-up Brawl On Cell Block 99. His latest is another undeniable hit that starts deceptively simply before snowballing into a sprawling urban crime epic as it follows its main protagonists – disgraced Bulwark City cops Brett Ridgeman (Mel Gibson) and Tony Lurasetti (BOCB99’s Vince Vaughn), on unpaid suspension after their latest bust leads to a PR nightmare – on a descent into a hellish criminal underworld as they set out to “seek compensation” for their situation by ripping off the score from a bank robbery spearheaded by ruthlessly efficient professional thief Lorentz Vogelmann (Thomas Kretschmann). In lesser hands, this two-hour-forty-minute feature might have felt like a painfully padded effort that would have passed far better chopped down to a breezy 90-minutes, but Zahler is such a compellingly rich and resourceful writer that every scene is essential viewing, overflowing with exquisitely drawn characters spouting endlessly quotable, gold-plated dialogue, and the constantly shifting narrative focus brings such consistent freshness that the increasingly complex plot remains rewarding right to the end. The two leads are both typically excellent – Vaughn gets to let loose with a far more showy, garrulous turn here than his more reserved character in his first collaboration with Zahler, while this is EASILY the best performance I’ve seen Gibson deliver in YEARS, the grizzled veteran clearly having a fine old time getting his teeth into a particularly meaty role that very much plays to his strengths – and they’re brilliantly bolstered by an excellent supporting cast – Get Rich Or Die Tryin’s Tory Kittles easily matches them in his equally weighty scenes as Henry Johns, a newly-released ex-con also out to improve his family’s situation with a major score, while Kretschmann is at his most chilling as the brutal killer who executes his plans with cold-blooded precision, and there are wonderful scene-stealing offerings from Jennifer Carpenter, Udo Kier, Don Johnson (three more Zahler regulars, each featured with Vaughn on BOCB99), Michael Jai White, Laurie Holden and newcomer Miles Truitt. This is a proper meaty film, dark, intense, gritty and unflinching in its portrayal of honest, unglamorous violence and its messy aftermath, but fans of grown-up filmmaking will find PLENTY to enjoy here, Zahler crafting a crime epic comparable to the heady best of Scorsese and Tarantino. Another sure-fire winner from one of the best new filmmakers around.

21. FAST COLOR – intriguingly, the most INTERESTING superhero movie of the year was NOT a major franchise property, or even a comic book adapted to the screen at all, but a wholly original indie which snuck in very much under the radar on its release but is surely destined for cult greatness in the future, not least due to some much-deserved critical acclaim. Set in an unspecified future where it hasn’t rained for years, a homeless vagabond named Ruth (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) is making her aimless way across a desolate American Midwest, tormented by violent seizures which cause strange localised earthquakes, and hunted by Bill (Argo’s Christopher Denham), a rogue scientist who wants to capture her so he can study her abilities. Ultimately she’s left with no other recourse than to run home, sheltering with her mother Bo (Middle of Nowhere and Orange is the New Black’s Lorraine Toussaint), and her young daughter Lila (The Passage’s Saniyya Sidney), both of whom also have weird and wondrous powers of their own. As the estranged family reconnect, Ruth finally learns to control her powers as she’s forced to confront her own troubled past, but as Bill closes in it looks like their idyll might be short-lived … this might only be the second feature of writer-director Julie Hart (who cut her teeth penning well-regarded indie western The Keeping Room before making her own debut helming South By Southwest Film Festival hit Miss Stevens), but it’s a blinding statement of intent for the future, a deceptively understated thing of beauty that eschews classic superhero cinema conventions of big spectacle and rousing action in favour of a quiet, introspective character-driven story where the unveiling and exploration of Ruth and her kin’s abilities are secondary to the examination of how their familial dynamics work (or often DON’T), while Hart and cinematographer Michael Fimognari (probably best known for his frequent work for Mike Flanagan) bring a ruined but bleakly beautiful future to life through inventively understated production design and sweeping, dramatic vistas largely devoid of visual effects. Subtlety is the watchword, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t fireworks here, it’s just that they’re generally performance-based – awards-darling Mbatha-Raw (Belle) gives a raw, heartfelt performance, painting Ruth in vivid shades of grey, while Toussaint is restrained but powerfully memorable and Sidney builds on her already memorable work to deliver what might be her best turn to date, and there are strong supporting turns from Denham (who makes his nominal villain surprisingly sympathetic) and Hollywood great David Strathairn as gentle small town sheriff Ellis. Leisurely paced and understated it may be, but this is still an incendiary piece of work, sure to become a breakout sleeper hit for a filmmaking talent from whom I expect GREAT THINGS in the future, and since the story’s been picked up for expansion into a TV series with Hart in charge that looks like a no-brainer. And it most assuredly IS a bona fide superhero movie, despite appearances to the contrary …

#glass #glass movie #the peanut butter falcon #pet sematary #the report #dark phoenix #it chapter 2 #motherless brooklyn #prospect #prospect movie #dragged across concrete #fast color #2019 in movies

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